President Donald Trump has elevated Indian-American Raj Shah to a key position in the White House communications team. In a first of sorts for the community, Shah has now been designated as Principal Deputy Press Secretary.
“Raj Shah will serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary,” the White House said in a statement. The 32-year-old Shah had earlier served as Deputy Communications Director.
Before moving to the White House, Shah was Director of Opposition Research in the Republican National Committee.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Shah’s parents, who hail from Gujarat, migrated to the US during the 1980s. The White House release also said that Trump has named Hope Hicks, one of his longest serving advisers, as Assistant to the President and Communications Director. He also named Mercedes Schlapp, a Fox News contributor and columnist for The Washington Times, as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications.