Karoline Leavitt Named Trump's New Press Secretary Amidst Internal Chaos
The appointment of the 41-year-old mother of four reportedly bypassed chief of staff Susie Wiles, sources told the Daily Mail.
Donald Trump has appointed Karoline Leavitt as his new press secretary, a move that reportedly occurred without the consultation of his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to four sources who spoke to the Daily Mail. The decision followed a tumultuous 72-hour period before the final appointment, marked by internal discussions and shifting dynamics within Trump's campaign.
Leavitt, 41, a mother of four, has been a vocal proponent of Trump and a familiar face on conservative media. A California native and Pepperdine-trained lawyer, she spent the past two years as a combative pro-Trump voice on Fox News and Newsmax. She also interned in George W. Bush's White House in 2006 and worked on Trump's 2024 campaign in swing states.
Trump had reportedly grown enamored with Leavitt's performances on Fox News prior to making her his press secretary. Her public persona has been described by an ally as "straight out of central casting: polished, blonde and camera-ready, in the mold of the women who have held the job before her."
The appointment process involved internal deliberation, with figures like Lauren Bis moving to the White House press shop before Leavitt's departure. Bis has a reportedly tense history with Leavitt, now her superior.
Sources close to Leavitt indicated she intends to build a relationship with Wiles and maintain loyalty. Leavitt's past associations have included working with figures like Corey Lewandowski, an association that some DHS insiders at the time branded her as a "Corey person," a characterization she has denied.
Leavitt does not maintain a relationship with Richard Grenell, a prominent Trump loyalist. They have reportedly not spoken in nearly a year, according to a source close to her.