As many journalists no doubt recall, those briefings also proved somewhat contentious during Trump’s first term. CNN reporter Jim Acosta had his press pass revoked in 2018 after sparring with Trump over his immigration policy. Acosta only regained his access after CNN went to court.

Under those circumstances, Leavitt looks to be battle-ready when she starts her new assignment. In June, her interview with CNN This Morning anchor Kasie Hunt was cut short after she harshly criticized Jake Tapper and Dana Bash—the moderators of the network’s presidential debate.

Speaking with Hannity on Tuesday, Leavitt said that she was prepared to deal with the “hostile media,” who she accused of pushing “lies and hoaxes” about Trump for the past eight years. She also suggested that legacy media outlets might be joined in the press room by “different voices,” a reference to the podcasters and social media influencers that the campaign sought out during the campaign.

“We will certainly look at options on how to respect the tradition of the White House while also ensuring that the press briefing room reflects the media habits of the American people today,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt will be the first press secretary of Trump’s second term but the fifth overall. Here’s a quick recap of the officials who held that position during his first term and whether they held daily press briefings.

Sean Spicer (January—July 2017): One of the most memorable moments during Spicer’s short tenure came on his first day when he repeated the false claim that Trump’s inauguration ceremony saw the largest crowd ever. After leaving the White House, he appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2019 and hosted a Newsmax show from 2020 to 2023.
Daily Press Briefings: Yes

Sarah Huckabee Sanders (July 2017—July 2019): The third woman to be named press secretary, Sanders served nearly two years but held fewer press conferences than her predecessors. She is currently the Governor of Arkansas.
Daily Press Briefings: Yes

Stephanie Grisham (July 2019—April 2020): Grisham was the first press secretary to not hold any press conferences during her tenure. She has been a vocal critic of the president-elect since her White House tenure.
Daily Press Briefings: No

Kayleigh McEnany (April 2020—January 2021): McEnany took over as press secretary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and vigorously defended Trump’s response to the crisis. She is currently a co-host of Fox News’ Outnumbered.
Daily Press Briefings: Yes