Stephanie Grisham is stepping down as White House press secretary and rejoining the first lady’s office as chief of staff and spokeswoman, touching off a reshuffling at the top tier of the White House communications shop.
A source familiar with the situation told on Tuesday that the new White House communications team will include Trump campaign national spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany as press secretary, Alyssa Farah as White House director of strategic communications and Ben Williamson as senior adviser for communications.
The source told reporters that McEnany, Farah and Williamson would work “in concert” and not necessarily report to one another in terms of “chain of command.”
First Lady Melania Trump announced she is “excited to welcome Stephanie back to the team in this new role,” saying Grisham “has been a mainstay and true leader in the Administration from even before day one, and I know she will excel as Chief of Staff.”
Excited to welcome @StephGrisham45 back as new Chief of Staff & Spokesperson. Looking forward to the years ahead as we promote #BeBest & continue preserving the @WhiteHouse & serving our great nation.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 7, 2020
The abrupt move comes less than a year after she took the job. Grisham previously worked as the communications director for Melania Trump before replacing Sarah Sanders as White House press secretary last summer.
In the first lady’s office, Grisham will take over for Lindsay Reynolds, who resigned earlier this week. A source said that even while Grisham served as press secretary, she remained very close to the first lady.
Excited to be rejoining the East Wing!! I am so honored to serve both @POTUS & @FLOTUS in this Administration. https://t.co/NVmYDNgQow
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) April 7, 2020
“I continue to be honored to serve both the President and First Lady in the Administration,” Grisham said. “My replacements will be announced in the coming days and I will stay in the West Wing to help with a smooth transition for as long as needed.”
Grisham did not actually hold traditional press briefings in the job, communicating instead via interviews, statements and tweets. White House briefings, long stalled, have only returned in the form of the near-daily coronavirus task force briefings that Trump himself often leads.
A source familiar with the situation told reporters Tuesday that the move to replace Grisham began several weeks ago. The source said that Jared Kushner “was never impressed with her” in the role, and did not think she was a good fit for the job.
The source also told reporters that when new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows began his official duties, Kushner gave him the green light to bring in someone of his own to be press secretary.
McEnany will be Trump’s fourth White House press secretary.
Meadows, according to sources, has been looking to bring Farah, who currently serves as press secretary for the Pentagon, back over to the White House. Farah formerly worked as press secretary for Vice President Pence, and prior to her work at the White House, served as a press secretary for the House Freedom Caucus, which Meadows chaired.
Meanwhile, Williamson served as Meadows’ communications director during his time on Capitol Hill. Meadows brought Williamson with him to the White House, initially to serve as his senior adviser and deputy assistant to the president.
