U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American former journalist Kush Desai as the White House Deputy Press Secretary, according to an official announcement on Friday.

Desai brings significant political and communications experience to the role. He previously served as Deputy Communications Director for the 2024 Republican National Convention and as Communications Director for the Republican Party of Iowa.

At the Republican National Committee, Desai also held the position of Deputy Battleground States and Pennsylvania Communications Director. In this role, he played a pivotal part in crafting messaging strategies and building narratives in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, where Trump secured victories across all seven battleground states.

The White House Office of Communications, which Desai will work closely with, is currently overseen by Deputy White House Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich.

President Trump has recently bolstered his communications team with the appointment of Steven Cheung as Assistant to the President and White House Communications Director, and Karoline Leavitt as Assistant to the President and Press Secretary.

Desai's appointment underscores the Trump administration's focus on enhancing its communication strategy, particularly as it prepares to navigate a critical second term. His extensive experience in political communications and his journalistic background are expected to be instrumental in shaping the administration's messaging and public outreach.