WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday named Stephanie Grisham -- until now spokeswoman for his wife Melania -- the chief White House press secretary, taking over an office that has seen sharply deteriorating relations with the media.
The appointment, announced by Melania Trump on Twitter, replaces the outgoing Sarah Sanders, who oversaw the near ending of once traditional daily White House press briefings and fought repeatedly with journalists who accused her of lying.
Grisham will also hold the more strategic post of communications director, the first lady tweeted.
"I am pleased to announce @StephGrisham45 will be the next @PressSec & Comms Director!" Melania Trump wrote. "She has been with us since 2015 - @POTUS & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country."
Grisham is a Trump loyalist, having joined his presidential campaign back in 2015 and winning a reputation as a tough operator in the first lady's office.
Melania Trump's White House activities -- principally a campaign for helping children that she calls #BeBest -- receive relatively little media attention.
But Grisham revealed the behind-the-scenes power of the first lady during an unusual spat last November that effectively saw Melania Trump ordering deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel to be fired.
The dispute reportedly began when Ricardel was angered by seating arrangements on the government plane taking Melania Trump on a four-country tour of Africa, her first big solo foreign trip.
In a highly unusual move, Grisham issued a statement on Ricardel afterward that said: "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House."
Shortly after, Ricardel found herself being shuffled to another role.
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