American public official (born 1990)
Madeleine Elise Westerhout (born October 8, 1990) is the former Director of
Oval Office Operations at the
White House from February to August 2019.
[1] Prior to that, from 2017 to 2019, she served as the Personal Secretary to
U.S. President
Donald Trump . She was fired on August 29, 2019, after Trump learned she had shared details of the Trump family and Oval Office operations with reporters during an
off the record dinner earlier that month.
[2]
[3]
Early life
Westerhout was born in
Newport Beach, California , and grew up primarily in
Irvine, California . She studied at the
College of Charleston in
Charleston, South Carolina , receiving a BA degree in
political science in 2013.
[4]
[5] After her graduation, she moved to
Washington, D.C. , and worked as a
fitness trainer in the Pure Barre gym of Carrie Rezabek Dorr.
[6]
Career
In the
2012 presidential election , Westerhout worked for the
campaign of
Mitt Romney . In 2013, she worked for candidate John Kuhn in the
Republican primary for the
special election in South Carolina's first congressional district . Later that year, she interned for Congressman
John Campbell . In the summer of 2013, Westerhout began working for the
Republican National Committee and the Republican Party Organizing Committee. From January 2015, she worked as an assistant to RNC chief of staff
Katie Walsh .
[7]
On January 19, 2017, Donald Trump's transition team announced that Westerhout would serve as special assistant and executive assistant to the President.
[8] A June 2018 release of White House salary data revealed that Westerhout was paid US$130,000 for the position.
[9] She was promoted to Director of Oval Office Operations on February 2, 2019,
[10] at US$145,000 annually.
[11] Trump often referred to her as "my beauty."
[11]
In February 2019, Westerhout called a leak of Trump's schedule a "disgraceful breach of trust."
[12]
On August 29, 2019, she was fired after it was revealed that she had shared details about Trump's family and White House operations to reporters – reportedly while intoxicated – at an off-the-record dinner. Politico reported she was fired because she boasted of having a better relationship with Trump than his daughters did, and that she said Trump disliked being photographed with daughter
Tiffany Trump because he considered her overweight.
[2]
Two days later, Trump posted a tweet in which he cited Westerhout's "fully enforceable confidentiality agreement" but clarified that Westerhout "is a very good person and I don't think there would ever be reason to use it." In the same tweet, Trump claimed that Westerhout "called me yesterday to apologize, had a bad night. I fully understood and forgave her!"
[13]
On May 9, 2024, under subpoena, she testified during the
Trump hush money case about her time working at the White House,
[14] stating that checks were delivered to the White House by Trump Organization employees to be signed by Trump.
[15]
[16]
Bibliography
See also
References
^
"President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointments for the Executive Office of the President" .
whitehouse.gov . February 2, 2019 – via
National Archives .
^
a
b Lippman, Daniel (August 30, 2019).
"Trump's personal assistant fired after comments about Ivanka, Tiffany" . Politico .
^
"Trump says ousted personal assistant made 'hurtful' comments about his family to reporters" . The Washington Post . August 30, 2019.
^ Gillespie, Erin (January 20, 2017).
"College of Charleston grad named special assistant to president in Trump administration" . Post and Courier .
^ Ward, Marguerite (June 30, 2017).
"Here's how much President Trump's 26-year-old assistant makes" .
CNBC .
^
" 'Greeter Girl' Revealed: Ex-Fitness Instructor Is Mystery Woman Escorting Bigwigs Through Trump Tower" . Inside Edition . December 16, 2016.
^ Kopan, Tal (December 15, 2016).
"Meet the Trump Tower gatekeeper" .
CNN .
^ Nussbaum, Matthew (January 19, 2017).
"Trump team announces additional White House hires" . Politico .
^
"Executive Office of the President Annual Report To Congress On White House Office Personnel" (PDF) .
whitehouse.gov – via
National Archives .
^
"President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointments for the Executive Office of the President" .
whitehouse.gov – via
National Archives .
^
a
b Farhi, Arden (August 30, 2019).
"Trump addresses abrupt departure of his personal assistant Madeleine Westerhout" . CBS News . Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ Boyer, Dave (February 3, 2019).
"Trump's secretary blasts leak of president's private schedule" . The Washington Times . Retrieved May 2, 2019 .
^
"Trump's Tweet re Westerhout Firing" . Twitter . August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020 .
^ Katersky, Aaron; Charalambous, Peter; Rubin, Olivia; Bruggeman, Lucien; Reinstein, Julia (May 9, 2024).
"Trump trial: Judge, slamming defense, denies 2nd motion for mistrial" .
ABC News . Retrieved May 10, 2024 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
^ Backus, Alex; Fung, Katherine (May 9, 2024).
"Trump Hush Money Trial: Judge Denies Modifying Gag Order, Karen McDougal Will Not Testify" .
Newsweek . Retrieved May 10, 2024 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
^ Romano, Andrew (May 10, 2024).
"Trump trial updates: Fired White House aide Madeleine Westerhout wraps testimony as Michael Cohen expected to testify next week" . Yahoo News. Retrieved May 10, 2024 .
^
Swan, Jonathan (March 15, 2020).
"Exclusive: Madeleine Westerhout to release Oval Office memoir" .
Axios . Retrieved March 16, 2020 .
^ Westerhout, Madeleine (2020). Off the Record: Picking Up the Pieces after Losing My Dream Job at the White House: Westerhout, Madeline: 9781546059707 . Center Street.
ISBN
978-1546059707 .
External links
Media related to
Madeleine Westerhout at Wikimedia Commons
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff
Reince Priebus 2017
National Security Advisor
Michael Flynn 2017
John F. Kelly 2017–19
H. R. McMaster 2017–18
Mick Mulvaney 2019–20
John Bolton 2018–19
Mark Meadows 2020–21
Robert C. O'Brien 2019–21
Principal Deputy Chief of Staff
Katie Walsh 2017
Deputy National Security Advisor
K. T. McFarland 2017
Kirstjen Nielsen 2017
Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18
James W. Carroll 2017–18
Mira Ricardel 2018
Zachary Fuentes 2018–19
Charles Kupperman 2019
Emma Doyle 2019–20
Matthew Pottinger 2019–21 Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Rick Dearborn 2017–18
Homeland Security Advisor
Tom Bossert 2017–18
Chris Liddell 2018–21
Doug Fears 2018–19 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Joe Hagin 2017–18
Peter J. Brown 2019–20 Daniel Walsh 2018–19
Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21 Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy
Dina Powell 2017–18 Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
Bill Shine 2018–19
Nadia Schadlow 2018
Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs
Victoria Coates 2019–20
Counselor to the President
Kellyanne Conway 2017–20
White House Communications Director
Sean Spicer 2017
Steve Bannon 2017
Michael Dubke 2017
Johnny DeStefano 2018–19
Anthony Scaramucci 2017
Hope Hicks 2020–21
Hope Hicks 2017–18
Derek Lyons 2020–21
Bill Shine 2018–19 Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning
Jared Kushner 2017–21
Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Senior Advisor, Policy
Stephen Miller 2017–21
White House Press Secretary
Sean Spicer 2017 Senior Advisor, Economic Issues
Kevin Hassett 2020
Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19 Advisor
Ivanka Trump 2017–21
Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Director,
Public Liaison
George Sifakis 2017
Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017
Justin R. Clark 2018
Raj Shah 2017–19
Steve Munisteri 2018–19
Hogan Gidley 2019–20
Timothy Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21 Director,
Intergovernmental Affairs
Justin R. Clark 2017–18
Director, Strategic Communications
Hope Hicks 2017
Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21
Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19 Director,
National Economic Council
Gary Cohn 2017–18
Alyssa Farah 2020
Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media
Dan Scavino 2017–19 Chair,
Council of Economic Advisers
Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs
Marc Short 2017–18
Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20
Shahira Knight 2018–19
Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21
Eric Ueland 2019–20 Chair,
Domestic Policy Council
Andrew Bremberg 2017–19
Amy Swonger 2020–21
Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs
Bill Stepien 2017–18
Brooke Rollins 2020–21
Brian Jack 2019–21 Director,
National Trade Council
Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director,
Presidential Personnel
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18
White House Counsel
Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20
Emmet Flood 2018
John McEntee 2020–21
Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18
White House Cabinet Secretary
Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21 Matthew J. Flynn 2019
White House Staff Secretary
Rob Porter 2017–18
Kristan King Nevins 2019–21
Derek Lyons 2018–21
Personal Aide to the President
John McEntee 2017–18 Director,
Science & Technology Policy
Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2018
Chief Technology Officer
Michael Kratsios 2019–21 Nicholas Luna 2018–19 Director,
Management & Budget
Mick Mulvaney 2017–19 Director,
Oval Office Operations
Keith Schiller 2017
Russell Vought 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2017–19
Chief Information Officer
Suzette Kent 2018–20
Madeleine Westerhout 2019
United States Trade Representative
Robert Lighthizer 2017–21 Nicholas Luna 2019–21 Director,
National Drug Control Policy
James W. Carroll 2018–21
Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20
Chair ,
Council on Environmental Quality
Mary Neumayr 2018–21
Stephanie Grisham 2020–21
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Josh Pitcock 2017
White House Social Secretary
Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21
Nick Ayers 2017–19
White House Chief Usher
Angella Reid † 2017
Marc Short 2019–21 Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21
Physician to the President
Ronny Jackson † 2017–18
COVID-19 Medical Advisors
Deborah Birx 2020–21
Sean Conley 2018–21
Anthony Fauci 2020–21 Director,
White House Military Office
Keith Davids 2017–21
Scott Atlas 2020–21
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Marc Short Counsel to the Vice President Matt Morgan Counselor to the Vice President Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Sarah Makin Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Jarrod Agen Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Jen Pavlik Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Policy Director to the Second Lady Sara Egeland National Security Adviser to the Vice President Andrea Thompson
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Kristan King Nevins Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Mike Boisvenue Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Daris Meeks Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Press Secretary to the Vice President Marc Lotte Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Director of Legislative Affairs Jonathan Hiler Director of Communications for the Second Lady Kara Brooks
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff
Reince Priebus 2017
National Security Advisor
Michael Flynn 2017
John F. Kelly 2017–19
H. R. McMaster 2017–18
Mick Mulvaney 2019–20
John Bolton 2018–19
Mark Meadows 2020–21
Robert C. O'Brien 2019–21
Principal Deputy Chief of Staff
Katie Walsh 2017
Deputy National Security Advisor
K. T. McFarland 2017
Kirstjen Nielsen 2017
Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18
James W. Carroll 2017–18
Mira Ricardel 2018
Zachary Fuentes 2018–19
Charles Kupperman 2019
Emma Doyle 2019–20
Matthew Pottinger 2019–21 Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Rick Dearborn 2017–18
Homeland Security Advisor
Tom Bossert 2017–18
Chris Liddell 2018–21
Doug Fears 2018–19 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Joe Hagin 2017–18
Peter J. Brown 2019–20 Daniel Walsh 2018–19
Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21 Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy
Dina Powell 2017–18 Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
Bill Shine 2018–19
Nadia Schadlow 2018
Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs
Victoria Coates 2019–20
Counselor to the President
Kellyanne Conway 2017–20
White House Communications Director
Sean Spicer 2017
Steve Bannon 2017
Michael Dubke 2017
Johnny DeStefano 2018–19
Anthony Scaramucci 2017
Hope Hicks 2020–21
Hope Hicks 2017–18
Derek Lyons 2020–21
Bill Shine 2018–19 Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning
Jared Kushner 2017–21
Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Senior Advisor, Policy
Stephen Miller 2017–21
White House Press Secretary
Sean Spicer 2017 Senior Advisor, Economic Issues
Kevin Hassett 2020
Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19 Advisor
Ivanka Trump 2017–21
Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Director,
Public Liaison
George Sifakis 2017
Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017
Justin R. Clark 2018
Raj Shah 2017–19
Steve Munisteri 2018–19
Hogan Gidley 2019–20
Timothy Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21 Director,
Intergovernmental Affairs
Justin R. Clark 2017–18
Director, Strategic Communications
Hope Hicks 2017
Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21
Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19 Director,
National Economic Council
Gary Cohn 2017–18
Alyssa Farah 2020
Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media
Dan Scavino 2017–19 Chair,
Council of Economic Advisers
Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs
Marc Short 2017–18
Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20
Shahira Knight 2018–19
Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21
Eric Ueland 2019–20 Chair,
Domestic Policy Council
Andrew Bremberg 2017–19
Amy Swonger 2020–21
Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs
Bill Stepien 2017–18
Brooke Rollins 2020–21
Brian Jack 2019–21 Director,
National Trade Council
Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director,
Presidential Personnel
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18
White House Counsel
Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20
Emmet Flood 2018
John McEntee 2020–21
Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18
White House Cabinet Secretary
Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21 Matthew J. Flynn 2019
White House Staff Secretary
Rob Porter 2017–18
Kristan King Nevins 2019–21
Derek Lyons 2018–21
Personal Aide to the President
John McEntee 2017–18 Director,
Science & Technology Policy
Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2018
Chief Technology Officer
Michael Kratsios 2019–21 Nicholas Luna 2018–19 Director,
Management & Budget
Mick Mulvaney 2017–19 Director,
Oval Office Operations
Keith Schiller 2017
Russell Vought 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2017–19
Chief Information Officer
Suzette Kent 2018–20
Madeleine Westerhout 2019
United States Trade Representative
Robert Lighthizer 2017–21 Nicholas Luna 2019–21 Director,
National Drug Control Policy
James W. Carroll 2018–21
Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20
Chair ,
Council on Environmental Quality
Mary Neumayr 2018–21
Stephanie Grisham 2020–21
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Josh Pitcock 2017
White House Social Secretary
Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21
Nick Ayers 2017–19
White House Chief Usher
Angella Reid † 2017
Marc Short 2019–21 Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21
Physician to the President
Ronny Jackson † 2017–18
COVID-19 Medical Advisors
Deborah Birx 2020–21
Sean Conley 2018–21
Anthony Fauci 2020–21 Director,
White House Military Office
Keith Davids 2017–21
Scott Atlas 2020–21