On Sunday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany falsely claimed that Donald Trump had beaten President-elect Joe Biden when it came to having an all-female communications team.
Biden has chosen an all-female press team. After the team was announced McEnany used Twitter to falsely claim that Trump “already has an ALL FEMALE White House press team.”
Twitter users were quick to point out that McEnany’s deputies included Judd Deere and Brian Morgenstern. She went on to claim that Vice President Mike Pence had an all-female team, however, Pence’s press secretary is Devin O’Malley.
“This is just such a weird and pointless thing to lie about,” George Conway, a long-time critic of Trump and his administration tweeted. Conway is also the husband of Trump’s former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.
Biden’s communication team marks the first time that aides tasked with speaking for the administration will all be female.
Biden aide Kate Bedingfield and Democratic spokeswoman Jen Psaki will be heading up the communications team.
Psaki served as White House communications director for former President Barack Obama and press secretary for former Secretary of State John Kerry. She will be replacing McEnany behind the podium.
Psaki turned to Twitter to share that her goal was to “rebuild the trust of the American people” after her predecessor repeatedly made false claims from behind the White House podium.
Bedingfield will take over as White House communications director. During his four years in office, Trump had six different communication directors.
“Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a president, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House,” Biden said in a statement. “These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, Vice President-elect Kamal Harris’ chief of staff will serve as Psaki’s top deputy. Pili Tobar, a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will serve as Bedingfield’s deputy.
Ashley Etienne, the former communications director to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will serve as Harris’ communications director. Symone Sanders, a former adviser to Biden’s campaign will be Harris’ top spokesperson.
“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis, to the climate crisis and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice,” Harris said in a statement. “To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly, and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering team will help us do that.”
Elizabeth Alexander, Biden’s former press secretary, will be the communications director to first lady Jill Biden.
“President-elect Biden has a history of advocating on behalf of women in the U.S. and around the world, and today’s announcement is a continuation of that work,” Ron Klain, who will serve as Biden’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “They embody Joe Biden’s commitment to a diverse administration where the voices of all Americans are represented.”
The communications team will face a major uphill battle as they work to win back the trust of the American public after four years of lies from Trump’s media team.
