On Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt, the newly appointed White House press secretary, made a bold move during her first official briefing, shaking up how these briefings would be conducted.

In a noticeable departure from tradition, she announced that two seats, previously reserved for White House staff, would be designated as “new media” seats.

These new media representatives would now get the chance to ask the first questions of the day.

Shifting the Power Dynamic at Press Briefings

In the past, the Associated Press, as the wire service, had the privilege of asking the first question, and the White House Correspondents’ Association played a key role in determining which outlets took which seats in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

However, Leavitt’s changes meant that Axios’ Mike Allen and Matthew Boyle from Breitbart were given the first opportunity to ask questions at her inaugural briefing, challenging the old norms.

Restoring Press Passes for Journalists Wrongly Revoked

In another significant move, Leavitt announced that under the new Trump 2.0 administration, the press passes of 440 journalists, who had been “wrongly revoked” during the Biden administration, would be restored.

This action is sure to have ripple effects across the media landscape as it continues to shape the administration’s relationship with the press.

The Youngest Press Secretary in History

At 27, Karoline Leavitt made history by becoming the youngest press secretary ever to serve in this role.

She also made history as the eighth woman to hold the position, reflecting a noticeable increase in female representation in recent administrations.

The Trump administration was especially notable for hiring multiple female press secretaries, with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany all holding the role during Trump’s first term.

Meanwhile, both of President Joe Biden’s press secretaries, Jen Psaki and Karine Jean-Pierre, were also women.

A Quick Career Trajectory and Personal Milestones

Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, has had an impressive career trajectory, beginning with an internship at Fox News.

She went on to serve as an assistant press secretary under McEnany during the first Trump administration.

In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress, winning the Republican primary before ultimately losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas in the general election.

Her political career took another leap when, in January 2024, she was appointed as the national press secretary for Trump’s campaign.

Her appointment as the first press secretary for Trump’s second term was officially announced on November 15, 2024.

A Delayed First Briefing and Family Life Amid Campaigning

Although Leavitt participated in a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One, her first formal briefing didn’t take place until eight days after Trump’s inauguration—this was a slightly longer delay than her predecessors, Jen Psaki and Sean Spicer, who both briefed the press much earlier in their respective administrations.

On the personal front, Leavitt experienced a life milestone in July 2024, just days before Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

She became a first-time mother while balancing her role on the campaign trail.

Karoline Leavitt’s career continues to rise, and her first briefing has certainly set the stage for an administration that looks to reshape how it engages with both the media and the public.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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