Trump replaces press secretary amid communications shake-up
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump shook up his communications team Tuesday, replacing his press secretary and adding new staffers as he grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
Stephanie Grisham, who had held the titles of press secretary and White House communications director since last June, is out after never holding a formal press briefing. She will be rejoining the first lady’s office in a new role as Melania Trump’s chief of staff.
Kayleigh McEnany, a top Trump campaign spokeswoman, will take over as Trump’s fourth press secretary. Also returning to the White House: Pentagon spokeswoman Alyssa Farah. She will lead strategic communications, according to a senior administration official familiar with the moves who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The shake-up comes as Trump is facing the biggest crisis of his administration, with the deadly coronavirus spreading across the country, fundamentally transforming American life while plunging the economy into what is expected to be a major recession.
Grisham, who succeeded
Sarah Sanders and Sean Spicer, was arguably the nation’s least visible press secretary in modern history, having never held a press briefing during her nine months on the job. While she made occasional appearances on the Fox News Channel, she preferred to tape her interviews in a studio to avoid having to speak to reporters on the White House driveway after appearing on TV cameras set up outside the executive mansion.
Her departure was not a surprise.
Grisham had been largely sidelined since the start of the pandemic, with the press team for Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the coronavirus task force, taking the lead. In addition, Mark Meadows, the president’s new chief of staff, has been working to bring on his own team, including senior adviser Ben Williamson.
McEnany is a regular defender of the president on television. Farah has deep ties to the White House, having served in the past as press secretary to Pence and as Meadows’ communications director.
Grisham’s new role was announced Tuesday by Melania Trump. The first lady said Lindsay Reynolds, her chief of staff for the past three years, had resigned to spend more time with her family.