First lady Jill Biden will announce Vanessa Valdivia as her new press secretary on Thursday, her office confirmed.
Valdivia previously served as a communications aide to Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and worked on Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) 2020 presidential campaign. Her husband, Chris Meagher, serves as one of three deputy press secretaries for President Joe Biden.
FIRST LADY BIDEN’S PRESS SECRETARY TO DEPART WHITE HOUSE
“Vanessa’s combination of strategic communications skills, expertise, and experience, as well as her commitment to public service, will make her a tremendous addition to our team,” Jill Biden’s Communications Director Elizabeth Alexander told CNN on Thursday morning.
Valdivia will succeed Michael LaRosa, who resigned as the first lady’s press secretary over the summer. He started working for Biden in September 2019 during the lead-up to the 2020 general election.
LaRosa was just one of several high-profile communications departures from the White House over the past year but the first from the office of the first lady. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki was replaced by Karine Jean-Pierre, then the principal deputy press secretary, in May.
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“For nearly three years, from the campaign to the White House, Michael has brought an encyclopedic knowledge of politics and media to my team as my spokesperson and adviser. On a small team, loyalty and friendship are lifelong — we will miss Michael. However, we are excited for him to begin a new chapter in his career,” the first lady said of LaRosa’s departure.
