**Steven Cheung Appointed as New White House Communications Director**

In a recent announcement, the president-elect has appointed Steven Cheung as the new White House Communications Director. Cheung, who previously served as the Trump campaign communications director, is known for his aggressive rhetorical style and background as a spokesperson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the renowned mixed martial arts organization.

Throughout the 2024 campaign, Cheung distinguished himself with his combative approach to defending Trump. He infamously attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, labelling her a "stone cold loser" and attributing assassination attempts on Trump to her rhetoric. Cheung's statements also targeted journalist Bob Woodward, whom he described as a "truly demented and deranged man" suffering from what he termed "Trump Derangement Syndrome." This term became a frequent tool for Cheung to deflect criticism of Trump and his controversial remarks.

In the final days of the campaign, Trump's comment about not minding if an assassin had to shoot through the press corps to reach him ignited widespread backlash. Cheung swiftly responded, clarifying that Trump’s words were not incitements but a suggestion that the media should be protected with bulletproof glass. "There can be no other interpretation of what was said," Cheung insisted in his statement, framing Trump as more concerned for the media's safety than his own.

Despite his often hyperbolic and inflammatory public statements, Cheung has maintained a pragmatic working relationship with reporters covering the Trump campaign. He has been a staple in Trump’s political ventures, having worked on both previous campaigns and having served in the White House during part of Trump's first term. Originating from Sacramento, California, Cheung built his career working on several mainstream Republican campaigns before aligning with Trump.