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Biden marketing campaign spokesman joins USTR as a prime communications officer

Biden campaign spokesman joins USTR as a top communications officer

United States Agent Seal

Source: Wikipedia

Former President Joe Biden’s chief spokesman has landed a top communications job in the US Trade Representative’s office.

Kamau Marshall, who was Biden’s director of strategic communications in the 2020 election, is now USTR’s assistant assistant for media and public affairs, according to the trade organisation’s website.

Marshall also conducted press contacts for Biden’s inauguration. The USTR is led by Ambassador Katherine Tai.

Marshall’s addition to the USTR leadership team comes as the United States is in the midst of an ongoing trade war with China.

Biden has yet to reveal whether he plans to lift the tariffs on Chinese exports that then-President Donald Trump imposed on the country’s goods. On Thursday, Biden warned American companies of worsening business conditions in Hong Kong.

Marshall has extensive political and communications experience beyond his time at Biden.

During former President Barack Obama’s tenure, he was a speechwriter and communications advisor for the Department of Agriculture. He also served on the Democratic Campaign Committee, MP Al Green, D-Texas, and the late Democratic MPs John Lewis and Elijah Cummings.

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Trump spokesman Jason Miller leaving his position to affix tech start-up

Trump spokesman Jason Miller leaving his role to join tech start-up

Former senior senior advisor to President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign Jason Miller walks the halls of the U.S. Capitol on the first day of Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial on February 9, 2021 in Washington, DC

Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

Longtime advisor to former President Donald Trump and current spokesman Jason Miller is leaving his role, a source familiar with the plans told CNBC on Thursday.

Miller, who has worked for Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign, is leaving his full-time duties as former president’s spokesman to become CEO of a technology start-up, the source said without giving further details.

No start date or transition schedule has been announced, and no announcement is forthcoming, the source said.

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According to the source, however, the unnamed company owns a social media platform that Trump is “considering”.

Miller will be the first CEO of the tech company, which has had a platform in development since last year, the source said when asked for more information about the startup. Miller will nonetheless remain in Trump’s orbit and remain an ally of Trump’s team, the source said.

It is unclear who will fill the soon vacant position. Margo Martin, another Trump spokeswoman, referred CNBC to Miller for comment.

Miller’s departure comes a little over a week after Trump’s personal blog page, which was active for less than a month, was permanently closed.

This website was originally billed as a “communications platform” but in reality served only as a place for Trump to post statements that he was not allowed to share on more popular social media sites.

Miller told CNBC at the time that the blog “wasn’t going back” and that it was “just an aid to the wider effort we have and are working on.”

The spokesman also tweeted on June 2 that Trump will actually join another social media platform.

Miller had worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign and transition to president, and was originally supposed to be White House communications director for the new administration.

These plans were abandoned after allegations of an extramarital affair with former Trump campaigner AJ Delgado became public.

The Trump campaign in 2020 hired Miller for the final leg of the race that Trump lost to current President Joe Biden.

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Biden spokesman TJ Ducklo suspended for reportedly threatening reporter

Biden spokesman TJ Ducklo suspended for reportedly threatening reporter

White House Assistant Secretary TJ Ducklo listens as Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 in Washington.

Patrick Semansky | AP

President Joe Biden’s deputy press secretary at the White House was suspended for a week without pay after reportedly threatening a reporter.

TJ Ducklo, who was also Biden’s main campaign spokesperson, was put on leave for seven days after a Vanity Fair story that described a controversial conversation with a Politico reporter. During that conversation, Ducklo allegedly said, “I will destroy you.”

Ducklo reportedly made derogatory and misogynistic comments to the reporter, who is a woman.

According to the Vanity Fair story, White House officials were aware of Ducklo’s conversation with the reporter in January. The suspension comes hours after the Vanity Fair story is posted on Friday.

The reporter Ducklo allegedly threatened was investigating Ducklo’s relationship with an Axios reporter who had covered Biden.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said in a series of tweets on Friday that Ducklo has been suspended and will no longer be able to speak to reporters at Politico.

Ducklo’s suspension comes weeks after Biden himself told a group of administrative officials that he would fire anyone who treated another colleague with disrespect.

“I’m not kidding when I say this, if you ever work with me and I hear that you are treating another colleague with disrespect, speak to someone and I’ll fire you immediately. No ifs or buts,” Biden said last month .

Ducklo, who didn’t respond to CNBC’s request for comment, was previously an NBC employee.