Melania Trump announced on June 25 that her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham has been picked to become the next White House press secretary.
The first lady made the announcement in a tweet, saying that Grisham, 42, will also become the White House communications director.
“I am pleased to announce StephGrisham45 will be the next PressSec & Comms Director! She has been with us since 2015 – potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country. Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the WhiteHouse. #BeBest” Trump posted on Twitter.
I am pleased to announce @StephGrisham45 will be the next @PressSec & Comms Director! She has been with us since 2015 – @potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country. Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse. #BeBest
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) June 25, 2019
President Donald Trump previously named Grisham as a potential candidate during a Fox & Friends earlier this month, where he described her as “terrific.”
Grisham, a fixture in the Arizona Republican Party, was one of Trump’s first hires during his presidential campaign—as a press aide in 2015. She served as a deputy press secretary in the White House when he took office in January 2017 and eventually was chosen to speak for the first lady.
Sanders’ principal deputy press secretary, Hogan Gidley, congratulated Grisham in a Twitter post.
“Amazing announcement! So proud and blessed to have my good friend @StephGrisham45 working with our team. She is a rockstar and perfect to fill Sarah’s shoes!” Gidley wrote.
Amazing announcement! So proud and blessed to have my good friend @StephGrisham45 working with our team. She is a rockstar and perfect to fill Sarah’s shoes! https://t.co/Z94OPJV64k
— Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) June 25, 2019
Grisham will be replacing Sarah Sanders in the role after Sanders announced her plan to resign and go back home to Arkansas earlier this month. Sanders is expected to leave her post at the end of June, Trump said in a tweet.
“She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas—she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!” he wrote.
After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
….She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.
Reuters contributed to this report.
