First Lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday that her longtime spokeswoman will succeed Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the official White House press secretary.
And the mainstream media is not happy about the news.
Stephanie Grisham, the woman who was once known as the “Melania Trump enforcer,” has a reputation as a fierce loyalist to the Trump agenda. Pundits expect her to stand tall in front of the media and defend the Trump administration.
“Grisham has built a reputation as a faithful defender of the first lady and president,” wrote NPR.
She’s been with President Donald Trump since 2015, when he first launched his presidential campaign. She will also take on the role of White House communications director, a strategic and forward-looking role that has been vacant since March. Grisham will accompany Trump on his trip to Japan and South Korea on Wednesday.
The first lady announced the news on Twitter, saying she “can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country.”
“Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse,” Mrs. Trump said.
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 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) June 25, 2019
Grisham worked directly for Trump after he took office in 2017.
She was a deputy press secretary in the West Wing before she was tapped in March of that year to run communications for the first lady. She will continue to serve the first lady in her new capacity.
Grisham will succeed Sanders, whose resignation is effective at the end of the month.
It’s unclear at this time whether or not the Trump administration will reinstate daily press briefings.
The Associated Press contributed to this article