Caroline Levitt is Trump's White House spokeswoman.

Caroline Levitt is Trump's White House spokeswoman.
November 16, 2024, 2:05 pm

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Donald Trump Appoints Caroline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary and Establishes National Energy Council

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday the appointment of Caroline Leavitt, 27, as the White House Press Secretary, a role she previously held during his campaign.

In a statement regarding the appointment, Trump praised Leavitt, saying, "Caroline is smart and tough, and she has proven her ability to communicate very effectively." This strategic position requires addressing press inquiries on camera almost daily.

The president-elect continued, "She did an outstanding job as the national spokesperson for my historic campaign, and I am pleased to announce that she will be our White House Press Secretary." He added that she "will shine on the podium and help us convey our message to the American people to make America great again."

Leavitt previously served as the communications director for Representative Elise Stefanik, a 40-year-old congresswoman from New York, whom Trump has nominated for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in hopes of becoming a representative for New Hampshire but ultimately lost.

In a podcast released on Fox News' conservative channel on Friday, Leavitt remarked, "I did not grow up in a political family. Like most Americans, I was raised in a middle-class business family here in New Hampshire. I became engaged in politics while in college."

In another significant announcement, the president-elect declared the creation of a National Energy Council aimed at "overseeing the path toward U.S. energy dominance," appointing North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as its chair. Trump had also chosen Burgum on Thursday to lead the Department of the Interior.

This dual role has raised concerns among environmental organizations, fearing that Burgum, known for his close ties to oil and gas stakeholders, may push for drilling in lands under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department, such as national parks.

The National Energy Council's mission will be to "reduce administrative burdens, promote private sector investment, and focus on innovation instead of unnecessary long-term regulations," as outlined in a statement released by Trump.

The statement further asserted, "With U.S. energy dominance, we will reduce inflation, win the AI arms race against China and others, enhance American diplomatic power, and end wars around the world."

Burgum initially ran in the Republican primary but quickly withdrew to support Trump. He was also considered a potential candidate for the vice presidency.

After becoming a millionaire by selling his software company to Microsoft, Burgum successfully ran for the governor of North Dakota in 2016, winning an election that was considered a surprise before being reelected in 2020.

He was also mentioned as a potential candidate for the Department of Energy before ultimately being selected to head the Interior Department and chair the National Energy Council, which will report directly to the White House and does not require Senate confirmation for its head.

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