Grisham has been with Trump since he launched his presidential bid in 2015 and is one of the few campaign officials still at the White House.
“Stephanie has been with me from the beginning, as most of you know,” Trump told reporters during an unrelated White House event. “And then over the last couple years she’s worked for the first lady, done a fantastic job. The first lady loves her, thinks she’s been, you know, just incredible.”
In addition to becoming White House press secretary, Grisham will also take on the role of White House communications director, a strategic and forward-looking role that has been vacant since March, when former Fox News Channel executive Bill Shine departed.
Grisham will accompany Trump to Japan and South Korea starting Wednesday, a trip that includes Trump’s meetings with the leaders of China and Russia.
The first lady announced the news on Twitter, saying she “can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country.”
Grisham worked directly for Trump after he took office in January 2017 as deputy press secretary in the West Wing. In March, she was tapped to run communications for the first lady and relocated to the East Wing. Grisham will continue to serve the first lady, making for a total of three top jobs.
Sanders, whose last day at the White House is Friday, will be remembered mostly for ending daily White House briefings and sparring with reporters. Trump seemed to suggest relations would not be as contentious under Grisham.
“She actually gets along with the media,” the president told reporters. He said Grisham accepted the job after he offered it Tuesday morning.
Before joining Trump’s campaign, Grisham worked in Republican politics in Arizona as a spokeswoman and communications adviser for elected officials facing scandals.
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