MSNBC’s vice president of communications is returning to the White House.
Politico’s Mike Allen reported Friday that Rachel Racusen, who joined MSNBC in November as vice president of communications, will be joining the communications team at the White House as an adviser.
Before going to MSNBC in late 2014, Racusen was a communications director at the White House.
“She was miserable,” a source at MSNBC, who requested anonymity, told the Washington Examiner media desk. “It is a whole new world. TV is cutthroat. And MSNBC is a difficult place to navigate. It is very different from the White House.”
Current White House Communications Director Jen Psaki emailed her staff Friday that Racusen would be returning to the White House, according to Politico.
“[W]e have convinced Rachel Racusen to come back [from MSNBC late this month] to work closely with Amy [Brundage and me],” the email said, according to Politico. “Racusen, formerly Associate WH Communications Director, will be returning … as Strategic Communications Advisor. In this new role, Racusen will be responsible for working with the communications staff to help manage long-term communications projects including close coordination with our digital team, working closely with WH components and engaging with outside groups and allies.”
In a statement to Politico, Racusen indicated that her move back to the White House was “unexpected.”
“I’ve been lucky to get to work with the great team at MSNBC,” she said. “Unexpectedly, the White House reached out with an exciting opportunity to help spearhead long-term communications priorities during their ‘fourth quarter,’ and it will be an honor to return to work for the president and his administration in this new capacity.”
