President Trump’s new press secretary will appear before reporters in the White House briefing room for the first time on Friday, something her predecessor failed to do during her nine months in the job.
Kayleigh McEnany was asked a day earlier whether she would be restarting the daily briefings and replied, “Never say never,” before her appearance was announced late that night.
The absence of daily briefings, and the chance they afford for in-depth scrutiny of administration policy, has been a source of tension with the White House press corps, despite the president’s frequent appearances for informal question and answer sessions as he leaves the White House on Marine One.
Trump himself took on the role of briefer in chief during the coronavirus crisis. In the past two weeks, however, aides began to worry that his freewheeling commentary was doing more harm than good, particularly when he mused aloud about using disinfectant and UV light to treat patients.
McEnany arrived in her new job from the Trump campaign last month as part of a shake-up of key staff. Mark Meadows also joined the White House as chief of staff.
Before McEnany, the post was held by Stephanie Grisham, who returned to the office of the first lady without ever holding a formal press briefing.
For much of the past year, the James Brady Briefing Room stood idle. Before Trump took over the duties, the last daily press briefing was held on March 11, 2019, by Sarah Sanders.
