Karoline Leavitt, at just 27 years old, is set to make history as the youngest White House press secretary when she delivers her first press briefing.
Having served as Donald Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, she will step up to the podium in the second week of Trump’s return to the presidency, taking on the critical role of representing the administration before the media.
Leavitt’s selection marks a continuation of her long-standing association with Trump. When announcing her appointment in November, Trump praised her as “smart, tough, and a highly effective communicator,” expressing confidence that she would “excel at the podium” and help deliver his administration’s message. Leavitt previously worked in the White House press office during Trump’s first term and later served as communications director for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has since nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
A native of New Hampshire, Leavitt studied communications and political science at Saint Anselm College. While still a student, she interned at Fox News and later at the Trump White House, experiences that she credited with shaping her career in press relations. After graduating in 2019, she joined the administration as a presidential speechwriter and later became an assistant press secretary, where she worked closely with former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Following Trump’s first term, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District in 2022, winning the Republican nomination but losing in the general election to Democrat Chris Pappas. Her campaign positions closely aligned with Trump’s policies, advocating for tax cuts, strong border security, and law enforcement support. In January 2024, she rejoined Trump’s team as his campaign press secretary, solidifying her role as a key figure in his political circle.
Leavitt takes on a position that has seen its share of controversy, particularly during Trump’s first presidency. His previous press secretaries, including Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany, often faced tense exchanges with the press. Some, like Sanders, went on to further political careers, while others, such as Grisham, distanced themselves from Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Her appointment breaks the previous record set by Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when Richard Nixon named him press secretary in 1969. As Leavitt prepares to step into the White House briefing room, she faces the challenge of handling a combative press corps while shaping the public messaging of the Trump administration’s second term.
