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Countering China Among Rubio's Goals on Central America Tour

The White House's Youngest Spokesperson Makes His Debut in the Briefing Room

Jan 29, 2025 05:17 85

Countering China Among Rubio's Goals on Central America Tour  - 1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's tour of Central America is partly aimed at countering China, a State Department spokesman told Fox Business, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.

"Part of this trip is about countering China," the spokesman said.

Rubio is expected to visit Panama and four other countries in Central America and the Caribbean this week. This will be the first trip abroad for the new US Secretary of State.

US President Donald Trump has put immigration at the center of his foreign policy agenda and insisted that Washington get back the Panama Canal in comments that angered Panama.

Meanwhile, Caroline Levitt, the youngest White House press secretary, made her debut in the "James S. Brady" press conference room and announced that from now on podcast hosts and influencers will also be able to apply for accreditation for her briefings, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.

Levitt entered the room shortly after 1:00 p.m. Eastern time and before answering questions from reporters, declared that Donald Trump is "the most transparent and accessible president in American history".

Mike Allen of the news website "Axios" was the first reporter to ask Levitt a question.

During Trump's first term, the "James S. Brady" room was a site of clashes between speakers and reporters. Trump himself often spoke to reporters in the room during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is not yet clear how often Levitt, 27, will hold briefings. When he first took office, Trump had four press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany, with Grisham never holding a press conference, while the others were more often behind the podium.

Levitt was Trump's campaign spokeswoman and continued to lead his press office during the transition. In November, the Republican said Levitt had done a "phenomenal job" and announced that she would be his White House press secretary.

"Caroline is smart, tough and has proven to be an extremely effective communicator," Trump wrote in a statement at the time. "I am absolutely confident that she will shine on the podium and help deliver our messages to the American people as we Make America Great Again," he added.

The youngest White House press secretary to date was Ronald Ziegler. He took the job at age 29 in 1969 during the Richard Nixon administration.

The White House press secretary is typically the public face of the government. During his first term, however, Trump chose to do the job himself. While he was in the White House from 2017 to 2021, he often preferred to address the public in person at rallies, through social media posts and in his own press conferences.