The Trump administration is defending its newly appointed spokesperson after photographs of her posing with a rifle and wearing a shirt with an obscenity directed at Joe Biden circulated online, according to WELT. The controversy centers on Beni Rae Harmony, who is 24 and has drawn attention as one of the youngest figures to take a prominent communications role at the White House, WELT reports.
Coverage of the appointment has been widespread in the German press. BILD reported that disputes over the new spokesperson began on her first day, while T-Online noted that her arrival at the White House at age 24 has caused a stir. Handelsblatt reported that the administration is pushing back against criticism of the 24-year-old, and Horizont.net included the story among its morning news items.
The reporting indicates the administration has publicly stood by Harmony rather than distancing itself from the images. The material available does not include the specific statements made by officials defending her, nor the exact content or timing of the photographs beyond what the headlines describe.
What to watch next: whether the administration offers further comment on the images, and whether the scrutiny affects Harmony's role as spokesperson.
