Former White House press secretary Caroline Levitt to join Fox News as commentator
In short
Caroline Levitt, the former White House press secretary, will join Fox News as an on-air commentator, RBC and Kommersant reported, citing the channel. She is due to start on 1 November and will appear across its news and analytical programmes. Kommersant reported that she left her post at the end of August, cited a wish to spend more time with her family, and said she is in talks with publishers about a book on her White House work.
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Caroline Levitt, the former White House press secretary, will join Fox News as an on-air commentator, according to Russian outlets reporting the channel's announcement. RBC and Kommersant said she will appear in its news and analytical programmes. RIA Novosti, in a headline citing The New York Times, said the former Trump press secretary would move to Fox News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
RBC said the appointment was announced by Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott. Kommersant reported that Levitt, 29, will start on 1 November, and that Fox News management said her experience in the White House and in the presidential election campaign gave her “a unique understanding of the current political situation.” [ 2 , 3 ]
Levitt said she was grateful for the chance to become an official member of the Fox News Media team and to share with millions of viewers what she called her “unique view of things and energy,” Kommersant reported. She described her work as press secretary as “an adventure of a lifetime.” Kommersant said she left her post at the end of August, with a wish to spend more time with her family cited as the reason, and that she is in talks with publishers about a book on her White House work. [ 3 ]
The documents differ on how the hire was reported. RIA Novosti credited The New York Times, while RBC attributed the announcement to Fox News Media's chief executive and Kommersant to Fox News itself. RIA Novosti described Levitt as Donald Trump's former press secretary; RBC and Kommersant described her as the former White House press secretary. Kommersant's headline said she had joined as an anchor, while its article and the other reports described the role as that of an on-air commentator. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The appointment places a former White House spokesperson in a commentary role at a major US news channel, which Fox News said draws on her White House and campaign experience. Beyond the channel's own characterisation and Levitt's comments, the documents do not discuss wider consequences, and none of them ties the appointment to Russian affairs.
Key facts
- Caroline Levitt, described by RBC and Kommersant as the former White House press secretary, will join Fox News as an on-air commentator. [ 2 , 3 ]
- She is due to start on 1 November and will appear across the channel's news and analytical programmes. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Fox News management said her experience in the White House and in the presidential election campaign gives her what it called a unique understanding of the current political situation. [ 3 ]
- Levitt said she was grateful for the chance to become an official member of the Fox News Media team and to share what she called her unique view of things and energy with millions of viewers. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that she left her post at the end of August and that a wish to spend more time with her family was cited as the reason. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that Levitt is in talks with publishers about a book on her work in the White House. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti, citing The New York Times, said the former Trump press secretary would move to Fox News. [ 1 ]
- RBC reported that Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott announced the appointment. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which outlet first reported the appointment and who announced it. RIA Novosti credits The New York Times with the report, while RBC attributes the announcement to Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott and Kommersant to Fox News itself; the documents do not reconcile the sourcing.
- Whether Levitt's role is that of an anchor or a commentator. Kommersant's headline says she joined as an anchor, while its article and the other reports describe the role as that of an on-air commentator.
- Why Levitt left the White House and whether she is writing a book. Both details appear only in Kommersant, which says a wish to spend more time with her family was cited as the reason for her departure and that she is in talks with publishers; no other document mentions either.
- How Levitt's former post is described. RIA Novosti calls her Donald Trump's former press secretary, while RBC and Kommersant call her the former White House press secretary; the documents do not explain the difference in wording.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes a headline, citing The New York Times, that the former Trump press secretary will move to Fox News. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports that Caroline Levitt will join Fox News as a commentator from 1 November, citing Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the Fox News announcement, including Levitt's comments, her departure at the end of August and her talks with publishers. [ 3 ]
- Scheduled start of Levitt's commentary role at Fox News. [ 2 , 3 ]