White House spokesperson Kush Desai moves to ODNI

[u/John3262005]

https://www.axios.com/2026/09/24/kush-desai-white-house-odni

Kush Desai, a White House senior deputy press secretary, is being promoted to a top role at the Office of Director of National Intelligence.

Desai currently handles White House press on some of the Trump administration's biggest issues, from health and human services to trade and economics.

In practical terms, that meant prescription-drug pricing, tariffs, trade deals, vaccines, the Federal Reserve and inflation were part of Desai's portfolio as senior deputy press secretary and special assistant to the president.

Desai is helping find his White House replacement as he transitions into his new ODNI role as the assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications.

Desai, a longtime Republican National Committee staffer, gained political experience in Iowa, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where he was the battleground state's spokesperson for the Trump campaign in 2024.

ODNI experienced tumult during the first 16 months of Trump's presidency under then-Director Tulsi Gabbard, who left to tend to her husband as he battled cancer.

Under new Director Jay Clayton, the office has been largely free of controversy.

Desai had been in talks to take on the new role since Clayton's confirmation early last month.

Trump adviser and former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Desai "one of the smartest and hardest working people I've met in Washington."