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US President Donald Trump’s 4^th press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany easily passed a test on Friday the first White House briefing led by a press secretary since Sarah Huckabee Sanders left the White House during summer 2019. Sanders’s final appearance behind the blue lectern in the James S. Brady Briefing Room was on 11^th March 2019. McEnany stepped behind the lectern; it had been nearly 14 months since a press secretary performed this essential part of communicating the president’s stance or thinking on myriad issues. She was impressive during her first nationally televised briefing, in terms of tone, preparedness, professionalism, and comfort level.

McEnany did her undergraduate work at Georgetown University and later graduated from Harvard Law School. She has been prepared for the big stage, the bright lights, and the tough questions, unlike Sean Spicer, Stephanie Grisham, and Sanders. Reporter after reporter welcomed her to the briefing room, an attempt by the White House press corps to build some rapport that was lacking under Spicer and Sanders, and often non-existent under Grisham. It is noteworthy that the White House Correspondents Association controls briefing room seating and the West Wing press area has put in place Covid-19 restrictions that have only about 2-dozen reporters in the usually 49-seat room.

Point to be noted that the Washington Post has reported there are at least 18 thousand false and misleading statements since Trump’s taking Oval office, and normally his employees repeat them. But, the new White House press secretary said, “I will never lie to you. You have my word on that”. She informed reporters, “You hesitated”. McEnany repeated Trump’s contention that FBI investigators were out to get both Flynn and her new boss. But, she will again face the ‘eye test’ standard once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. She came to the Briefing Room ready to provide information, not to fight with reporters. She furnished supporting information in responding to reporters’ queries.