Beni Rae Harmony, a 24-year-old conservative reporter, has been appointed as an assistant press secretary and White House spokesperson within President Donald Trump's administration. Her addition to the White House communications team was confirmed by Harmony herself and by White House officials, marking a new chapter in the administration's ongoing efforts to reshape its public relations operations. The move comes as President Trump continues to search for a permanent successor to Karoline Leavitt, who departed from the press secretary role in August.
"So many people told him when he was considering me for this job that I was too young. He ignored all the doubters and he gave me a chance." Karoline Leavitt
Prior to joining the White House, Harmony served as a senior White House correspondent for Real America’s Voice, a conservative news network. Her background also includes a stint at WICS-ABC20 in Springfield, where she reportedly resigned after being suspended for an on-air tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his assassination. According to her LinkedIn profile, Harmony also worked for Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, as a producer and administrator from August 2021 to February 2022. These experiences tie her directly to the broader MAGA movement, providing the White House with a communications figure deeply familiar with the conservative media landscape.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly welcomed Harmony's appointment, stating, "Beni Rae Harmony has been a trusted voice for the MAGA movement as a White House correspondent. She will be an outstanding addition to President Trump’s communications team as an Assistant Press Secretary — we look forward to having her on board!" Parker Sigg, Vice President of Real America’s Voice, also publicly congratulated Harmony, commending her strong work ethic, sharp reporting, and high energy during her tenure at the network.
Harmony's hiring fills a role beneath the top press secretary position, which remains vacant since Karoline Leavitt's departure. Leavitt, who had become the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, announced in August that she was leaving the administration to dedicate more time to her two young children. Her departure became official later that month. Leavitt cited the demanding, around-the-clock nature of the press secretary role as increasingly difficult to balance with her family responsibilities. She emphasized that her children were at a stage where they needed her presence at home more often.
Leavitt also publicly praised President Trump for giving her the opportunity despite concerns from others regarding her age. "So many people told him when he was considering me for this job that I was too young," Leavitt said. "He ignored all the doubters and he gave me a chance." Since her departure, Leavitt has returned to MAGA Inc., a super PAC aligned with President Trump, where she had previously worked before joining the 2024 campaign. She has refrained from publicly endorsing any specific individual to replace her, stating that the decision belongs entirely to President Trump. "There is definitely a list, and there’s a lot of good people," Leavitt commented. "I won’t say any names or break any news on that front."
The addition of Harmony, at 24 years old, continues a trend within the Trump administration of placing younger media figures in prominent communications roles. While she is not stepping into the chief press secretary position, her presence adds another public-facing figure to the communications team as the search for Leavitt's permanent successor progresses. The Daily Mail previously reported that President Trump had "taken a liking" to Harmony, citing a TMZ story from September 13 that indicated he was seen reviewing a file about her aboard Air Force One. However, there has been no official announcement suggesting Harmony is being considered for the top press secretary role. Her appointment as an assistant press secretary and White House spokesperson strengthens the administration's media outreach capabilities as it continues to navigate a complex political landscape. The White House communications team is expected to play a critical role in articulating the administration's policies and priorities to the public, especially as the next election cycle approaches.
