We Miss Kayleigh McEnany
By Brytin Staab
While a new presidential staff has transitioned into office, it’s important to pay homage to the contributions and legacies of key players from the previous administration. Kayleigh McEnany, in particular, deserves due recognition. Appointed by President Trump, Kayleigh McEnany landed the role of White House Press Secretary in 2020 after serving as a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign. During her tenure, Kayleigh faced an arduous uphill battle in which she constantly combatted hostile press actors determined to topple both her and the sitting president. Despite the misogynistic treatment and double standards, Kayleigh defended the truth of Trump’s presidency and demanded the legacy media conglomerates meet a higher standard of accountability, transparency, and fairness.
A writer, mother, and graduate of Georgetown and Harvard Law, Kayleigh embodied the mantra that women can “do it all.” Defying the Leftist myth that industry-wide glass ceilings still inhibit women from success, Kayleigh McEnany refused to be limited by metaphorical barriers and seized all of the opportunities before her. While feminism stipulates that women must unequivocally lift up all women, Kayleigh McEnany, like other conservative females, was excluded from this same support. Rather than praising Kayleigh as they would a Democratic press secretary with comparable credentials, the leftist media slandered and ridiculed her merely because she represented the Trump administration. A habit they [the media] haven’t let up on since she retired from the podium. Given the biased and divisive political climate, Kayleigh had no choice but to be her own champion.
Education is an obvious instrument for female empowerment and financial independence, and Kayleigh took full advantage of it. Taking charge of her education, Kayleigh attended powerhouses such as Georgetown University, The University of Miami, and Harvard Law School, where she studied law after working as a producer at Fox News. While her education resume impresses, so too does her charitable involvement and social activism. Kayleigh is currently a board member of Rachel’s Challenge; a nonprofit focused on eliminating violence and supporting education in memoriam of a student killed during the Columbine High School Shooting. Kayleigh has also raised money for anti-bullying campaigns and dedicated her book to Rachel Joy Scott in the hope that all children can have a bright future. As a resident of Colorado, where the tragic Columbine shooting occurred, I’m inspired by Kayleigh’s dedication to this important cause and her persistent philanthropic efforts for the benefit of children in America.
While a few of her press secretary predecessors were driven out by the leftist media, Kayleigh remained resilient and continued to serve in her post through the brutal pandemic and 2020 election season. She provided a constant source of wisdom and poise in a time when turmoil and turnover was the only thing on her critics’ minds. She advocated for the administration while also defending President Trump’s voice and his role as defender of the American people. Kayleigh had a track record of gracefully handling the press, especially as they sought to bait and catch her at every turn. While her words were often intentionally misconstrued, Kayleigh developed a reputation as press secretary for her meticulous research and detailed preparation, authoritative but graceful argumentation style, and quick grasp of facts and evidence. While Kayleigh balanced seemingly competing interests between her speaker’s position in Washington and motherhood, she nevertheless excelled in her career and served as a mouthpiece for the concerns of millions of forgotten Americans.
While Kayleigh defended the most powerful office in the nation, she also protected the societal building block of motherhood throughout her tenure. The traditional female role in the domestic sphere has been debated for many decades, with the practical conflict between running a home and having a career among the most intense debates. NYT journalist Maggie Haberman herself has a lot to say on the “rare” discussion of motherhood in high-stress jobs. She glorified Glennon Doyle and the Biden campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, yet excluded conservative women in Washington who do it every day. Kayleigh didn’t need much more than a simple photo to prove that managing motherhood and a career simultaneously is more than possible- but not for the faint of heart. Among the most remembered events of the Trump White House will surely be the several occasions Kayleigh brought her beautiful baby daughter, Blake, to the podium. On a daily basis, Kayleigh displayed the motherly qualities of care, grace, and determination, while waging some of the most challenging media battles in White House history. Kayleigh proved beyond a shred of doubt that women can move mountains in a demanding career path while still raising a family.
Even though Kayleigh McEnany’s time in the White House has ended, we at The Conservateur wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors at Fox. Her personal strength, composure, and work ethic are traits all women should aspire to— regardless of political identity. Even though Kayleigh worked in one of the most criticized offices in the White House, she persevered despite the criticism and adversity.
Photo via Getty Images
