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Published -
- May 2, 2020
- 6:19 am
The new Trump White House press secretary held the first official press briefing in over a year and pledged she would not lie from the podium.
Jill Colvin, who asked her the question that prompted that answer, joins to discuss. Aired on 05/01/2020.
What are some potential pitfalls of committing oneself to honesty as a spokesperson for the White House, and how might McEnany avoid them?
Kayleigh McEnany, the new Press Secretary of the White House under President Donald Trump, has declared that she will not lie from the podium during her tenure.
In recent years, the integrity of the presidential communication team has been called into question due to instances of misinformation and deliberate falsehoods. McEnany’s statement is a refreshing promise of honesty from the administration’s spokesperson.
McEnany is not new to politics, having previously worked as a national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, a contributor at CNN, and a host on Fox News. She took over as the White House Press Secretary in April 2020, replacing Stephanie Grisham, who held the position for less than a year.
While McEnany’s promise is welcomed, it remains to be seen how she will handle the tough questions that come with her new role. The role of the Press Secretary is to provide information and represent the administration to the media, but this often involves handling questions that are difficult or uncomfortable for the president or their team.
It is worth noting that McEnany has already faced criticism for her handling of some contentious questions. Shortly after taking the job, she compared President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic to the swift response of the U.S. government to the Ebola crisis under former President Barack Obama. While this statement was not a lie, it was met with backlash as it ignored the numerous differences in these two situations.
McEnany’s statement that she will not lie from the podium is a welcome change, and one that should be applauded. However, it is important to remember that honesty also involves acknowledging when one does not know the answer to a question or when they are unable to provide information. Hopefully, McEnany’s promise of honesty will extend to all aspects of her job as Press Secretary, including the handling of difficult or controversial questions.
Overall, McEnany’s pledge to honesty is a promising start to her time as White House Press Secretary. While it remains to be seen how she will handle tough questions or controversial issues, her commitment to truthfulness is a positive step forward for a presidential communication team that has been plagued by misinformation and mistrust in recent years.
