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

Caroline Levitt is Trump's White House spokeswoman.

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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.

Continual Violence in Sudan: 23 Civilians Reportedly Killed by Rapid Support Forces Under Bashar al-Assad's Rule: 830 Foreign Military Sites in Syria

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.