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.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”