White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is stepping down at the end of June, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter Thursday.
“After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas . . . She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done,” Trump wrote.
….She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
Sanders thanked the President on Twitter after he announced her resignation.
“I am blessed and forever grateful to Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve and proud of everything he’s accomplished. I love the President and my job. The most important job I’ll ever have is being a mom to my kids and it’s time for us to go home. Thank you Mr. President,” Sanders said.
I am blessed and forever grateful to @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to serve and proud of everything he’s accomplished. I love the President and my job. The most important job I’ll ever have is being a mom to my kids and it’s time for us to go home. Thank you Mr. President! https://t.co/wHNnq06AMg
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) June 13, 2019
Sanders became the third female press secretary after she replaced Sean Spicer in 2017. Previously, she worked on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign after her father Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race.
During her time as press secretary, Sanders was known to have a contentious relationship with the press.
One of her most famous interactions with the press came when CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta asked Sanders about one of Trump’s tweets that called the media “the fake news media” and the “true enemy of the people.”
Under Trump’s presidency, the White House press briefings became top-rated television shows. In 2017, more than 4 million people were watching the briefings on an average day.
But daily press briefings have all but ended in recent months. The last press briefing took place 94 days ago. Sanders still answers questions from reporters, but it is done informally on the White House driveway.
Vice President Mike Pence thanked Sanders for her service after the news broke.
Thank you to @PressSec Sarah Sanders for her service to our Administration & our nation! She’s a patriot who worked tirelessly every day to deliver on @POTUS’ America First Agenda,” Pence said. “@SecondLady and I wish Sarah, Bryan & the kids all the best in their future endeavors! THANK YOU!”
Thank you to @PressSec Sarah Sanders for her service to our Administration & our nation! She’s a patriot who worked tirelessly every day to deliver on @POTUS’ America First Agenda. @SecondLady and I wish Sarah, Bryan & the kids all the best in their future endeavors! THANK YOU!
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) June 13, 2019
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Battleground State News.
