President Donald Trump invited press secretary Sarah Sanders onstage at his 2020 campaign kickoff in Florida on June 18, and the crowd later gave her a standing ovation.
About an hour into his speech at the Amway Center, Trump called Sanders up on stage. He said she'd been “so good, so talented, so wonderful.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. This has been truly the honor of a lifetime,” Sanders said. “One of the most incredible experiences anybody can ever imagine. And that’s because I’ve had a chance to be on the front row of history and watch you drastically change our country for the better.”
While Sanders said she was stepping down to spend more time with her family, Trump said Sanders was going to run for governor of Arkansas.
Sanders said she thinks Trump will win re-election in 2020.
“You’ve made America great, you’re gonna continue to make America great,” she said to Trump.
“He’s going to have an incredible six more years,” she added, referring to there being over a year left in his first term.
“Taking off on AF1 for my last trip as WH Press Secretary,” Sanders wrote.
“This has been the honor of a lifetime, the opportunity of a lifetime. I couldn’t be prouder to have had the opportunity to serve my country and particularly to work for this President. He has accomplished so much in these two and a half years, and it’s truly been something I will treasure forever,” she said.
“It’s one of the greatest jobs I could ever have. I’ve loved every minute. Even the hard minutes, I have loved it. I love the President. I love the team that I’ve had the opportunity to work for. The President is surrounded by some of the most incredible and most talented people you could ever imagine. And it’s truly the most special experience.”
White House Eying Replacements
Trump said last week that he’s looking at a number of potential candidates to replace Sanders.“I have a lot of people that want it,” he said during an interview on Fox & Friends on Friday morning.
He named several people, including Stephanie Grisham, director of communications for First Lady Melania Trump, who he said was “terrific.”
He also said that he likes Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director, but said he should stay in his current role as a political consultant.
Grisham praised Sanders on Thursday, calling her “a true pro and a dear friend.” Multiple reports have indicated that she’s near the top of the list in terms of possible replacements.
“Stephanie Grisham is well-respected by the first couple and has impressed the president, according to the sources. Grisham was among the staff who worked on the president’s 2016 campaign,” Gomez noted.
“The president likes her,” a former White House official told him.
