White House Communications Director

U.S. presidential staff member in charge of the White House's media campaign From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The White House communications director, known officially as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the president of the United States. The officeholder is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the president and leading its media campaign.

Reports toWhite House Chief of Staff
AppointerPresident of the United States
Formation1969 (White House Office)
1974 (White House Office of the Press Secretary)
First holderHerbert G. Klein
Quick facts Reports to, Appointer ...
White House Communications Director
Incumbent
Steven Cheung
since January 20, 2025
Executive Office of the President
White House Office
Reports toWhite House Chief of Staff
AppointerPresident of the United States
Formation1969 (White House Office)
1974 (White House Office of the Press Secretary)
First holderHerbert G. Klein
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The director, along with their staff, works on major political speeches such as the inaugural address and the State of the Union Address. The communications director, who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president, without the need for United States Senate confirmation, is usually given an office in the West Wing of the White House.

History

The White House Office of Communications was established by Herbert G. Klein in January 1969 during the Nixon administration.[1][2] It was separate from the Office of the Press Secretary from 1969 to 1974.[3]

Key staff

List of directors

  Denotes acting capacity.
More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Start End Duration Ref(s) President
Herb Klein January 20, 1969 July 1, 1973 4 years, 162 days [6] Richard Nixon
(1969–1974)
Ken Clawson January 30, 1974 August 9, 1974 191 days [7]
August 9, 1974 November 4, 1974 87 days Gerald Ford
(1974–1977)
Jerry Warren November 4, 1974 August 15, 1975 284 days [8]
Margita White August 15, 1975 July 12, 1976 332 days [9]
David Gergen July 12, 1976 January 20, 1977 192 days [10]
Gerald Rafshoon July 1, 1978 August 14, 1979 1 year, 44 days [11] Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
Frank Ursomarso February 23, 1981 June 17, 1981 114 days [12][13] Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)
David Gergen June 17, 1981 January 15, 1984 2 years, 212 days [14]
Michael McManus January 15, 1984 February 6, 1985 1 year, 22 days [8]
Pat Buchanan February 6, 1985 March 1, 1987 2 years, 23 days [15]
Jack Koehler March 1, 1987 March 13, 1987 11 days [16]
Tom Griscom April 2, 1987 July 1, 1988 1 year, 90 days [17]
Mari Maseng Will July 1, 1988 January 20, 1989 203 days [18]
David Demarest January 20, 1989 August 23, 1992 3 years, 216 days [19] George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
Margaret Tutwiler August 23, 1992 January 20, 1993 150 days [20]
George Stephanopoulos January 20, 1993 June 7, 1993 138 days [21] Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
Mark Gearan June 7, 1993 August 14, 1995 2 years, 68 days [22]
Don Baer August 14, 1995 July 31, 1997 1 year, 351 days [23]
Ann Lewis July 31, 1997 March 10, 1999 1 year, 222 days [24]
Loretta Ucelli March 10, 1999 January 20, 2001 1 year, 316 days [25]
Karen Hughes January 20, 2001 October 2, 2001 255 days [26] George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
Dan Bartlett October 2, 2001 January 5, 2005 3 years, 95 days [27]
Nicolle Wallace January 5, 2005 July 24, 2006 1 year, 200 days [28]
Kevin Sullivan July 24, 2006 January 20, 2009 2 years, 180 days [29]
Ellen Moran January 20, 2009 April 21, 2009 91 days [30] Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
Anita Dunn April 21, 2009 November 30, 2009 223 days [31]
Dan Pfeiffer November 30, 2009 January 25, 2013 3 years, 56 days [32]
Jen Palmieri January 25, 2013 April 1, 2015 2 years, 66 days [33]
Jen Psaki April 1, 2015 January 20, 2017 1 year, 294 days [34]
Sean Spicer January 20, 2017 March 6, 2017 45 days [35] Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
Michael Dubke March 6, 2017 June 2, 2017 88 days [36][37]
Sean Spicer June 2, 2017 July 21, 2017 49 days [37][38][39][40][41]
Anthony Scaramucci July 21, 2017 July 31, 2017 10 days [42][43][44][45]
Hope Hicks August 16, 2017 September 12, 2017 225 days [46][47][48]
September 12, 2017 March 29, 2018
Bill Shine July 5, 2018 March 8, 2019 246 days [49]
Stephanie Grisham July 1, 2019 April 7, 2020 281 days [50]
Kate Bedingfield January 20, 2021 March 1, 2023 2 years, 40 days [51][52] Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
Ben LaBolt March 1, 2023 January 20, 2025 1 year, 325 days [14]
Steven Cheung January 20, 2025 Incumbent 1 year, 95 days [53] Donald Trump
(2025–present)
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References

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