So, if you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve probably seen a fresh face standing at the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. It’s a high-pressure gig. Honestly, it’s probably one of the toughest jobs in Washington. You’re basically the human shield for the President of the United States.
Right now, Karoline Leavitt is the person behind that podium.
She took over the role as the 36th White House Press Secretary on January 20, 2025, when the second Trump administration began. If she looks younger than the folks who usually hold that job, that’s because she is. At just 28 years old, she’s actually the youngest press secretary in American history. She beat out Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when he started working for Richard Nixon back in the 60s.
Why Karoline Leavitt is the current press secretary in the white house
Leavitt didn't just stumble into this role. She’s been in the MAGA world for a while.
Before getting the big promotion to the West Wing, she was the national press secretary for the Trump 2024 campaign. She’s known for being incredibly sharp and, frankly, pretty aggressive when defending the president. You might have seen her on TV—she’s got this style that’s very "on-message" and she doesn't back down when reporters start grillin' her.
A quick look at her background
- Hometown: Atkinson, New Hampshire.
- Education: She went to Saint Anselm College.
- Early Career: She actually started in the White House press office during Trump’s first term as an assistant press secretary.
- Congressional Run: In 2022, she tried to run for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. She won a messy 10-way primary but ended up losing the general election to the incumbent Democrat.
What does the Press Secretary actually do?
Most people think the job is just standing there and arguing with the media for an hour a day. While that’s the part we see on C-SPAN, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes.
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Basically, the press secretary is the bridge between the executive branch and the world. Every morning, they have to get briefed by the National Security Council, the West Wing advisors, and the President himself to figure out what the "line" is for the day.
Then, they have to go out and sell it.
In 2026, the landscape is even weirder than it used to be. The administration is pushing a lot of stuff through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and focusing on things like "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA). Leavitt has to be an expert on all of it—from trade tariffs to AI policy—at a moment's notice.
Who else is in the Press Office?
Leavitt isn't a one-woman show. She has a whole team of deputies who help manage the "Media Offenders" list (which is a new thing this administration is doing) and coordinate with different outlets.
Harrison Fields serves as the Principal Deputy Press Secretary. You’ve also got Anna Kelly and Kush Desai acting as Deputy Press Secretaries. They’re the ones who often handle the "gaggles"—those informal Q&A sessions that happen on Air Force One or on the White House lawn when the President is walking to his helicopter.
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A shift in how the White House talks to you
One thing that’s really different right now is how the administration treats the traditional press corps.
Leavitt has been pretty vocal about opening up the briefing room to "new media." This means you’re seeing more podcasters, independent journalists, and social media creators getting seats in a room that used to be reserved for legacy outlets like the New York Times or CBS.
It’s a controversial move. Some people think it devalues traditional journalism, while others think it's about time the White House reached people where they actually live—which is mostly on their phones, not watching the nightly news.
Fact-checking common misconceptions
People often get confused about the difference between the Press Secretary and the Communications Director.
The Communications Director is usually more of a "big picture" person. They plan the long-term strategy and the "look" of the administration. The Press Secretary is the tactical operator. They deal with the immediate fires, the daily scandals, and the breaking news.
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Also, despite what you might see in movies, the Press Secretary doesn't always know every single secret. Sometimes, for "plausible deniability," they are kept in the dark about certain covert operations so they don't accidentally lie to the public.
What to watch for in the coming months
As we head deeper into 2026, Leavitt's role is going to get even more intense with the midterms approaching. You can expect to see her focusing heavily on:
- The Economy: Defending the administration's "affordability" plans.
- Foreign Policy: Handling the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, specifically regarding Iran.
- DOGE Updates: Explaining how the government is being "right-sized."
If you want to keep up with what's happening, the easiest way is to follow the official White House social media accounts or watch the briefings live on YouTube. They usually happen in the early afternoon, though the schedule can change if the President decides to do a "surprise" appearance himself.
To get the most accurate information directly from the source, you should check the Briefings and Statements section on the official White House website. It provides full transcripts of everything said at the podium, which is helpful if you want to see the context behind a specific quote you saw on the news.