White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving her position at the end of June, according to President Donald Trump.
“She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas—she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!” he wrote.
Sanders had yet to issue a statement on the matter by press time.
Sanders, who took over the role from Sean Spicer in July 2017 after previously serving as deputy press secretary, is the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is also a two-time Republican presidential candidate. She served as field director for her father’s 2002 reelection campaign and was the national director for his 2008 presidential bid.
Trump Fans’ Favorite
Sanders became a popular figure in her own right at Trump rallies, sought after for selfies by his supporters. In November, at the final rallies ahead of the congressional elections, Trump invited her on stage to speak briefly to the cheering crowds.Sanders’s role developed into that of a senior adviser and confidante of the president, one who is regularly brought into senior-level meetings. She called the job “the honor of a lifetime.”
“I’ve loved every minute, even the hard minutes,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I have three amazing kids, and I’m going to spend a little more time with them.”
Speculation immediately turned to whether Sanders might run for governor of Arkansas, a position once held by her father.
“If we can get her to run for the governor of Arkansas, I think she'll do very well,” Trump said.
