Washington: US Vice President JD Vance hosted the White House press briefing on Thursday, marking the first official briefing since former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt left the administration last month.
Vance opened the briefing by praising Leavitt, calling her the “greatest White House press secretary in history.” Her replacement has not yet been announced, with several names reportedly under consideration.
The briefing is the first since July 23 and comes after Vance and other senior Trump administration officials previously stepped in to handle press briefings while Leavitt was on maternity leave earlier this year.
Leavitt, who gave birth to her second child, is expected to remain part of President Donald Trump’s inner circle despite leaving her White House position.
The administration may continue relying on a rotating group of Cabinet members and senior officials to address reporters until a permanent press secretary is appointed.
Vance faced the briefing as the administration confronted several major issues, including the ongoing war with Iran, an escalating tariff dispute between the United States and Canada, and growing affordability concerns ahead of the US midterm elections.
The vice president’s appearance therefore offered an opportunity for reporters to press the administration on its foreign policy, trade measures and domestic economic challenges.
