Melania Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham named new White House press secretary

Stephanie Grisham, a top aide to first lady Melania Trump, was named Tuesday to replace Sarah Sanders as White House press secretary after a brief but competitive search for the president’s next spokesperson.

Grisham, who developed a reputation as a fierce defender of the first lady during her tenure as spokeswoman, will also become the White House communications director, according to an announcement from the first lady’s office.

Grisham joined the Trump campaign’s press operation in 2015. She previously worked on Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign.

Sanders announced her plans to step down as White House press secretary earlier this month. On Tuesday, Sanders tweeted that Grisham “will be an incredible asset to the president and the country.”