Trump Picks Republican Party Strategist as Press Secretary
- Sean Spicer elevated from Republican National Committee post
- Hope Hicks, Jason Miller appointed to communications roles
Sean Spicer walks through the lobby at Trump Tower, Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesPresident-elect Donald Trump named Republican National Committee chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer as White House press secretary, choosing an establishment Republican with longstanding relationships among Washington political journalists and the party’s leadership in Congress.
The elevation of Spicer, 45, may signal Trump’s interest in building a working relationship with the same mainstream media he bashes in speeches aimed at disenfranchised, working-class voters. The press secretary traditionally is the president’s best-known aide and chief daily messenger for the White House, leading regular televised briefings for reporters and directing most media operations.