The Washington Post praised Joe Biden’s decision to fill top communications positions with women after Jen Psaki was announced as his pick for White House press secretary.
The longtime Democratic spokeswoman will be “one of seven women who will fill the upper ranks of his administration’s communications staff,” the paper said. “It is the first time all of the top aides tasked with speaking on behalf of an administration and shaping its message will be female.”
In announcing Psaki, Biden said he was "proud" his communications team would be "comprised entirely of women."
"These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better," he added.
But Trump officials wondered why such a move was being praised given that the current administration has women in senior communications positions as well.
“The Trump admin’s comms team is entirely female-led,” responded Sarah Matthews, White House Deputy Press Secretary. "But apparently the achievements of GOP women don’t count in the eyes of the media...”
The Trump admin’s comms team is entirely female-led:
— Sarah Matthews (@SarahAMatthews1) November 29, 2020
Press Sec @kayleighmcenany
Comms Director @Alyssafarah@VPComDir Katie Miller
FLOTUS Spox @StephGrisham45
2nd Lady Spox @KaraBrooks03
But apparently the achievements of GOP women don’t count in the eyes of the media... pic.twitter.com/Q3zWoxgF3j
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the report “reveals [The Washington Post’s] blinding propagandist Fake News proclivities.”
"President @realDonaldTrump already has an ALL FEMALE Senior White House Press Team," she said. "So does @VP ... So does @FLOTUS ... So does @SecondLady ..."
President @realDonaldTrump already has an ALL FEMALE Senior White House Press Team.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) November 30, 2020
So does @VP...
So does @FLOTUS...
So does @SecondLady...
The completely DISCREDITED @washingtonpost once again reveals their blinding propagandist Fake News proclivities ?? pic.twitter.com/HpP0KL8kgD
Alyssa Farah, White House Communications Director, said "celebrating women’s advancement [should] be nonpartisan."
All accomplished & impressive women. But celebrating women’s advancement shd be nonpartisan:
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) November 30, 2020
Under Trump:
PressSec: @kayleighmcenany
CommsDir: me??????
FLOTUS: @StephGrisham45
VP: @VPComDir
SLOTUS: Kara Brooks
Dep PressSec&comms: @SarahMatthews45 & @RomaDaravi45 (& amazing guys https://t.co/y8ajxanHXQ
Kristina Baum, Communications Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the OSTP was also led by an all female communications team.
FACT: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (@WHOSTP) has an all female communications team. There are three of us.
— Kristina Baum (@KristinaBaum45) November 30, 2020
????????????????
Judd Deere, White House Deputy Press Secretary, said he's always had a female boss since working there.
Since I arrived at the Trump White House a woman has always been my boss.
— Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere) November 30, 2020
First it was Hope Hicks, Mercedes Schlapp, and Sarah Sanders.
Then it was Stephanie Grisham.
And of course currently it’s Kayleigh McEnany and Alyssa Farah.
I guess the media forgot? ?????? https://t.co/D6P1iiSCQS
Paris Dennard, the GOP's Senior Communications Advisor of Black Media Affairs, said "Having women in charge of communications isn’t anything new for Republicans" in the Trump administration.
Having women in charge of communications isn’t anything new for Republicans working for In the @realDonaldTrump White House. Just ask, @kayleighmcenany @Alyssafarah Hope Hicks, @mercedesschlapp, @StephGrisham45, @SarahHuckabee, @KaraBrooks03, & @VPComDir https://t.co/5BPtg7UqyP
— PARIS (@PARISDENNARD) November 30, 2020
The difference reportedly comes in the fact that Biden is "jump-starting...with the all-female" comms team.
.@BrianStelter, dismissing facts from @SarahAMatthews1 (and echoed by others like @kayleighmcenany, @Alyssafarah, @VPComDir, etc.) b/c "the clear difference here is that Biden is jump-starting...with an all-female team and making a statement about diversity."
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 30, 2020
What a hack. pic.twitter.com/CA1k29qGQ2