Who is Karoline Leavitt? Youngest White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt is the new White House press secretary, and she held her first briefing at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday.
During the briefing, Leavitt said podcasters and social media influencers could apply to participate in future briefings.
Leavitt also said she plans to hold briefings frequently and that President Donald Trump would be available to reporters for questions.
"I can assure you that you’ll be hearing from both him and me as much as possible," Leavitt said.
Before Leavitt, the youngest press secretary was Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration, the Associated Press noted.
Here’s what you need to know about Leavitt.
Who is Karoline Leavitt?
Karoline Leavitt, 27, is the youngest White House press secretary, and she previously was a spokesperson for Donald Trump’s campaign and transition, and Trump said she did "a phenomenal job" when he announced in November that she'd be his White House press secretary.
FILE-White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (C) walks toward members of the press outside the White House on January 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Leavitt spoke briefly with members of the press following a short interview with Fox News. (Photo b
What they're saying:
"Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator," Trump said then in a statement. "I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again."
RELATED: Trump names Karoline Leavitt to serve as White House press secretary
The backstory:
The 27-year-old is a New Hampshire native and is viewed as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the Republican in television interviews.
Leavitt worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
What are the White House press secretary’s duties?
The White House press secretary serves as the public face of the president’s administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps.
Trump’s previous White House press secretaries
President Donald Trump had four press secretaries during his first administration, Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany. The Associated Press noted that Grisham never held a White House briefing, while the press secretaries were more present behind the podium.