You’ve probably seen the name pop up during a heated cable news segment or scrolled past a viral, slightly aggressive meme on X. Abigail Jackson is currently serving as a Deputy Press Secretary in the White House, and honestly, she’s become one of the most visible faces of the administration’s communications machine.
She isn't just another staffer. She’s the one who often takes the front-line hits when the briefing room gets chaotic.
Who exactly is Abigail Jackson?
If you're looking for the resume, it’s pretty textbook for a D.C. power player. Abigail Therese Jackson (who many political junkies know from her time as Abigail Marone) graduated from George Washington University in 2019. She didn't waste any time. While some of us were still figuring out how to pay back student loans, she was already working as a Rapid Response Specialist for the 2020 Trump campaign.
Before landing the Abigail Jackson White House gig in May 2025, she spent years as the right hand to Senator Josh Hawley. She was his Communications Director and eventually Deputy Chief of Staff. If you follow Hawley’s brand of politics, you know it’s punchy and populist. Jackson brought that exact same energy to the West Wing.
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Her Career Path at a Glance:
- 2017-2019: Communications Associate at Americans for Tax Reform.
- 2019-2020: Rapid Response for the Trump campaign.
- 2021-2025: Climbed the ranks from Press Secretary to Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Josh Hawley.
- 2025-Present: White House Deputy Press Secretary.
The Viral Moments and the "Dunking" Controversy
Politics is a contact sport now. Jackson knows this better than most. In late 2025, she went viral for a response to Daily Beast editor Hugh Dougherty. After the outlet complained about how the administration was treating their reporters, Jackson replied with a meme of a penguin holding a basketball.
The caption? "Getting f****** dunked on liberal."
People lost their minds. Critics called it "unprofessional" and "foul-mouthed." Supporters loved it. When asked for a formal comment by The Independent, Jackson didn't back down. She basically said that the "liberal activists" at that outlet weren't actual journalists. It was a clear signal: the old rules of "polite" press relations are out the window.
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Defending the National Guard and Immigration Policies
Aside from the social media fireworks, Jackson is deeply involved in the administration's most controversial policies. Lately, that's meant defending the deployment of the National Guard to Democratic-controlled cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.
When NPR or Reuters reach out for comment on immigration raids or the "Showy" enforcement tactics, Jackson is usually the one providing the quote. She’s consistently argued that Democratic leaders are the ones putting communities at risk by "demonizing" ICE officers.
It’s a tough job. She’s essentially the shield for the President’s most aggressive domestic agendas.
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Why people are so divided on her
Kinda depends on what side of the aisle you sit on, right? To her critics, she represents a "retribution presidency" where the press is the enemy. They see her tweets and her sharp-tongued statements as a breakdown of democratic norms.
On the flip side, her fans see her as a "warrior." They’re tired of Republicans who apologize for their views. They like that she’s young, tech-savvy, and willing to use the same "cancel culture" tactics against the media that have been used against politicians for years.
What to watch for next
Abigail Jackson isn't going anywhere. In fact, her profile is only growing. As we head further into 2026, keep an eye on these specific things:
- The Midterm Build-up: Expect her to be the primary voice "debunking" opposition narratives as the elections get closer.
- The Briefing Room Podium: There’s constant rumor that she might move up if there’s a shuffle at the top of the Press Office.
- Policy Enforcement: Watch how she handles the legal fallout from the National Guard deployments—this is her biggest "substantive" challenge right now.
Actionable Takeaways for the Politically Curious:
- Follow her X (Twitter) account: If you want to see the administration's "unfiltered" stance before it hits the evening news, that’s where it starts.
- Verify the quotes: Because Jackson is so polarizing, both left-wing and right-wing blogs often take her quotes out of context. Always check the full transcript of White House briefings or the original social media threads.
- Watch the "Rapid Response" patterns: Notice how quickly she pivots from a policy question to an attack on the "mainstream media." It’s a specific strategy you can learn to spot.
Ultimately, Abigail Jackson is the blueprint for the modern political operative: young, fierce, and completely unapologetic. Whether you love the style or hate it, she’s a central pillar of how the White House communicates today.