Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, made her debut in the briefing room on Tuesday, announcing that podcasters and social media influencers could be invited to participate in future briefings.
Leavitt, 27, entered the room in a magenta pantsuit shortly after 1 p.m. ET. Before taking questions, she emphasized that reporters had “access to the most transparent and accessible president in American history” in Donald Trump. She called on Mike Allen of Axios to ask the first question.
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, where intense clashes between spokespeople and journalists occurred during Trump’s first term, was also frequently used by Trump himself, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It remains unclear how often Leavitt will hold briefings. During Trump’s first term, the administration saw four press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany. Grisham, notably, never held a briefing, while the others made regular appearances. Leavitt had previously served as a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign and transition, with Trump praising her as “smart, tough, and a highly effective communicator” when he appointed her as press secretary in November. He expressed confidence that she would excel at the podium and help “Make America Great Again.”
Before Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the press secretary position was Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the role in 1969 during Richard Nixon’s presidency.
Grisham, on the other hand, was known as one of the least visible press secretaries in modern history, avoiding press briefings altogether and opting for appearances on Fox News or pre-taped interviews in a studio.
Traditionally, the White House press secretary serves as the public face of the administration, holding daily briefings for the press. However, Trump disrupted this norm during his first term, often choosing to engage directly with the public through rallies, social media, and his own briefings.
When asked about regular press briefings during his new administration, Trump said in August, “I will give you total access, and you’ll have a lot of press briefings, and you’ll have, uh, from me.” He also indicated that while the briefings may not be daily, they would occur frequently, adding, “You’ll have more than you want.”
