Trump appoints Indian-American ex-journalist as Deputy Press Secretary

Desai has also served as Deputy Communications Director for the 2024 Republican National Convention and Communications Director for the Republican Party of Iowa. (Image: X//@K_SDesai)

US President Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American former journalist Kush Desai as Deputy Press Secretary, the White House announced on Friday.

"Kush Desai will serve as a Deputy Press Secretary after serving as Deputy Battleground States & Pennsylvania Communications Director at the Republican National Committee," as per the statement by the White House.

Desai has previously served as Deputy Battleground States and Pennsylvania Communications Director at the Republican National Committee and played a key role in messaging for battleground states, including Pennsylvania, where Trump secured victories in all seven key states.

He also served as Deputy Communications Director for the 2024 Republican National Convention and Communications Director for the Republican Party of Iowa.

Expressing his excitement on microblogging site X, Desai wrote, “I’m back, back in the DC groove.”

Im back, back in the DC groove pic.twitter.com/MI7d8MeXep

Kush Desai (@K_SDesai) January 25, 2025

The White House Office of Communications will now operate under the guidance of Deputy White House Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich. Desai joins a growing communications team that includes Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, and Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary.