President-elect Donald Trump has made history by appointing Karoline Leavitt as the youngest White House press secretary, naming the 27-year-old to the prominent role she played during his campaign. Leavitt, who also worked in communications during Trump’s first term, will assume the position when Trump returns to the presidency on January 20, 2025.
“Karoline Leavitt did an exceptional job as spokesperson for my historic campaign, and I’m proud to announce that she will serve as the White House press secretary,” Trump said in a statement. Describing her as “smart and tough,” Trump praised Leavitt as a highly effective communicator, expressing confidence in her ability to deliver his administration’s message while working to “Make America Great Again.”
A Historic Appointment
At 27, Leavitt will become the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, breaking the record previously held by Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when he served as press secretary for President Richard Nixon. As the face of the administration’s communication with journalists, the role of press secretary is one of the most high-profile and challenging positions in the White House.
Leavitt will take on this role at a time when Trump’s approach to media relations remains controversial. During his first term, Trump frequently clashed with the press, labeling media outlets as “enemies of the people” and accusing them of spreading “fake news.” Under his directive, daily press briefings—a long-standing tradition in prior administrations—were largely abandoned, with no briefings held between March 2019 and January 2020.
It remains to be seen whether Leavitt’s tenure will continue Trump’s adversarial relationship with the media or mark a new chapter in White House communications.
Trump’s Cabinet Announcements
Leavitt’s appointment is one of several high-profile selections announced by Trump in recent days. Among the notable picks are:
- Marco Rubio as Secretary of State
- Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense
- Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security
- Elon Musk to head a new Office of Government Efficiency
- Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff
- John Ratcliffe as CIA Director
- Elise Stefanik as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- Tom Homan as “Border Czar,” overseeing immigration policies.
A Triumphant Return
Trump’s appointments come on the heels of a sweeping electoral victory on November 5, in which he secured not only the presidency but also Republican control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This marks a decisive comeback for the 78-year-old leader, whose campaign successfully tapped into conservative momentum nationwide.
According to NBC News, Trump also won the popular vote against Democratic challenger and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, securing 50.2% of the vote—a feat he failed to achieve in his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton.
A New Era for Trump’s White House
As Trump prepares to begin his second term, the selection of Leavitt signals a bold, youthful direction for the administration’s communications strategy. With a team that blends loyalty, experience, and controversial figures like Elon Musk and Tom Homan, Trump’s White House is shaping up to be as dynamic and polarizing as ever. Whether Leavitt’s tenure as press secretary will smooth Trump’s relationship with the press or continue his combative approach remains to be seen.
