American public official (born 1990)
Madeleine Elise Westerhout (born October 8, 1990) is an American former political aide who served in the first Trump administration . She was initially the Personal Secretary to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019, before being named Director of Oval Office Operations at the White House from February to August 2019. She was fired after Trump learned she had shared details of his family and Oval Office operations with reporters during an off the record dinner earlier that month.[ 1] [ 2]
Early life
Westerhout was born in Newport Beach, California , and grew up primarily in Irvine, California . She studied at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina , receiving a BA degree in political science in 2013.[ 3] [ 4] Washington, D.C. , and worked as a fitness trainer in the Pure Barre gym of Carrie Rezabek Dorr.[ 5]
Career
In the 2012 presidential election , Westerhout worked for the campaign of Mitt Romney . In 2013, she worked for candidate John R. Kuhn in the Republican primary for the special election in South Carolina’s first congressional district . Later that year, she interned for Congressman John Campbell . In the summer of 2013, Westerhout began working for the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party Organizing Committee. From January 2015, she worked as an assistant to RNC chief of staff Katie Walsh .[ 6]
On January 19, 2017, Donald Trump ‘s transition team announced that Westerhout would serve as special assistant and executive assistant to the President.[ 7] White House salary data revealed that Westerhout was paid US$130,000 for the position.[ 8] [ 9] Oval Office Operations ,[ 10] [ 11] [ 11]
On August 29, 2019, she was fired after it was revealed that she had shared details about the Trump family and White House operations to reporters – reportedly while intoxicated – at an off the record dinner. Politico reported she was fired because she boasted of having a better relationship with Trump than his daughters did, and that she said Trump disliked being photographed with daughter Tiffany Trump because he considered her overweight.[ 1] [ 12] Off the Record .[ 13] [ 14]
On May 9, 2024, under subpoena, she testified during the Trump hush money case about her time working at the White House,[ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
As 2026, Westerhout is a vice president of the American Global Strategies consulting firm, as well as the chief of staff to the chairman, Robert C. O’Brien .[ 18]
Bibliography
Westerhout, Madeleine (2020). Off the Record: Picking Up the Pieces After Losing My Dream Job at the White House . New York: Center Street . ISBN 978-1-5460-5970-7 .
See also
References
^ a b Lippman, Daniel (August 30, 2019). “Trump’s personal assistant fired after comments about Ivanka, Tiffany” . Politico . ^ “Trump says ousted personal assistant made ‘hurtful’ comments about his family to reporters” . The Washington Post . August 30, 2019.^ Gillespie, Erin (January 20, 2017). “College of Charleston grad named special assistant to president in Trump administration” . Post and Courier . ^ Ward, Marguerite (June 30, 2017). “Here’s how much President Trump’s 26-year-old assistant makes” . CNBC ^ “ . Inside Edition . December 16, 2016.^ Kopan, Tal (December 15, 2016). “Meet the Trump Tower gatekeeper” . CNN . ^ Nussbaum, Matthew (January 19, 2017). “Trump team announces additional White House hires” . Politico . ^ “Executive Office of the President Annual Report To Congress On White House Office Personnel” (PDF) . whitehouse.gov National Archives .^ Boyer, Dave (February 3, 2019). “Trump’s secretary blasts leak of president’s private schedule” . The Washington Times . Retrieved May 2, 2019 . ^ “President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointments for the Executive Office of the President” . whitehouse.gov National Archives .^ a b Farhi, Arden (August 30, 2019). “Trump addresses abrupt departure of his personal assistant Madeleine Westerhout” . CBS News . Retrieved May 13, 2024 . ^ “While Madeleine Westerhout has a fully enforceable confidentiality agreement, she is a very good person and I don’t think there would ever be reason to use it. She called me yesterday to apologize, had a bad night. I fully understood and forgave her! I love Tiffany, doing great!” . Twitter . August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020 .^ Swan, Jonathan (March 15, 2020). “Exclusive: Madeleine Westerhout to release Oval Office memoir” . Axios . Retrieved March 16, 2020 .^ Carlson, Adam (August 11, 2020). “Trump’s Ex-Assistant — Ousted After Loose-Lipped Dinner with Reporters — Tells Her White House Story” . People . Retrieved May 21, 2026 . ^ Katersky, Aaron; Charalambous, Peter; Rubin, Olivia; Bruggeman, Lucien; Reinstein, Julia (May 9, 2024). “Trump trial: Judge, slamming defense, denies 2nd motion for mistrial” . ABC News . Retrieved May 10, 2024 . ^ Backus, Alex; Fung, Katherine (May 9, 2024). “Trump Hush Money Trial: Judge Denies Modifying Gag Order, Karen McDougal Will Not Testify” . Newsweek . Retrieved May 10, 2024 . ^ Romano, Andrew (May 10, 2024). “Trump trial updates: Fired White House aide Madeleine Westerhout wraps testimony as Michael Cohen expected to testify next week” . Yahoo News. Retrieved May 10, 2024 . ^ “Get to know our team: Madeleine Westerhout” . American Global Strategies. Retrieved May 21, 2026 .
External links
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus 2017 National Security Advisor Michael Flynn 2017 John F. Kelly 2017–19 H. R. McMaster 2017–18 Mick Mulvaney 2019–20 John Bolton 2018–19 Mark Meadows 2020–21 Robert C. O’Brien 2019–21 Principal Deputy Chief of Staff Katie Walsh 2017 Deputy National Security Advisor K. T. McFarland 2017 Kirstjen Nielsen 2017 Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18 James W. Carroll 2017–18 Mira Ricardel 2018 Zachary Fuentes 2018–19 Charles Kupperman 2019 Emma Doyle 2019–20 Matt Pottinger 2019–21 Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Rick Dearborn 2017–18 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert 2017–18 Chris Liddell 2018–21 Doug Fears 2018–19 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Joe Hagin 2017–18 Peter J. Brown 2019–20 Daniel Walsh 2018–19 Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21 Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy Dina Powell 2017–18 Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine 2018–19 Nadia Schadlow 2018 Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs Victoria Coates 2019–20 Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway 2017–20 White House Communications Director Sean Spicer 2017 Steve Bannon 2017 Michael Dubke 2017 Johnny DeStefano 2018–19 Anthony Scaramucci 2017 Hope Hicks 2020–21 Hope Hicks 2017–18 Derek Lyons 2020–21 Bill Shine 2018–19 Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning Jared Kushner 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Senior Advisor, Policy Stephen Miller 2017–21 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 2017 Senior Advisor, Economic Issues Kevin Hassett 2020 Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19 Advisor Ivanka Trump 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Director, Public Liaison George Sifakis 2017 Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21 Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017 Justin R. Clark 2018 Raj Shah 2017–19 Steve Munisteri 2018–19 Hogan Gidley 2019–20 Tim Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Justin R. Clark 2017–18 Director, Strategic Communications Hope Hicks 2017 Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21 Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19 Director, National Economic Council Gary Cohn 2017–18 Alyssa Farah 2020 Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media Dan Scavino 2017–19 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs Marc Short 2017–18 Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20 Shahira Knight 2018–19 Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21 Eric Ueland 2019–20 Chair, Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg 2017–19 Amy Swonger 2020–21 Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs Bill Stepien 2017–18 Brooke Rollins 2020–21 Brian Jack 2019–21 Director, National Trade Council Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director, Presidential Personnel Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 White House Counsel Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20 Emmet Flood 2018 John McEntee 2020–21 Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18 White House Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21 Matthew J. Flynn 2019 White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter 2017–18 Kristan King Nevins 2019–21 Derek Lyons 2018–21 Personal Aide to the President John McEntee 2017–18 Director, Science & Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2018 Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios 2019–21 Nick Luna 2018–19 Director, Management & Budget Mick Mulvaney 2017–19 Director, Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller 2017 Russell Vought 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2017–19 Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent 2018–20 Madeleine Westerhout 2019 United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer 2017–21 Nick Luna 2019–21 Director, National Drug Control Policy James W. Carroll 2018–21 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20 Chair , Council on Environmental Quality Mary Neumayr 2018–21 Stephanie Grisham 2020–21 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Josh Pitcock 2017 White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21 Nick Ayers 2017–19 White House Chief Usher Angella Reid † 2017 Marc Short 2019–21 Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21 Physician to the President Ronny Jackson † 2017–18 COVID-19 Medical Advisors Deborah Birx 2020–21 Sean Conley 2018–21 Anthony Fauci 2020–21 Director, White House Military Office Keith Davids 2017–21 Scott Atlas 2020–21
Position Appointee Chief of Staff to the Vice President Marc Short Counsel to the Vice President Matt Morgan Counselor to the Vice President Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Sarah Makin Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Jarrod Agen Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Jen Pavlik Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Policy Director to the Second Lady Sara Egeland National Security Adviser to the Vice President Andrea Thompson
Position Appointee Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Kristan King Nevins Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Mike Boisvenue Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Daris Meeks Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Press Secretary to the Vice President Marc Lotte Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Director of Legislative Affairs Jonathan Hiler Director of Communications for the Second Lady Kara Brooks
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus 2017 National Security Advisor Michael Flynn 2017 John F. Kelly 2017–19 H. R. McMaster 2017–18 Mick Mulvaney 2019–20 John Bolton 2018–19 Mark Meadows 2020–21 Robert C. O’Brien 2019–21 Principal Deputy Chief of Staff Katie Walsh 2017 Deputy National Security Advisor K. T. McFarland 2017 Kirstjen Nielsen 2017 Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18 James W. Carroll 2017–18 Mira Ricardel 2018 Zachary Fuentes 2018–19 Charles Kupperman 2019 Emma Doyle 2019–20 Matt Pottinger 2019–21 Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Rick Dearborn 2017–18 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert 2017–18 Chris Liddell 2018–21 Doug Fears 2018–19 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Joe Hagin 2017–18 Peter J. Brown 2019–20 Daniel Walsh 2018–19 Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21 Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy Dina Powell 2017–18 Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine 2018–19 Nadia Schadlow 2018 Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs Victoria Coates 2019–20 Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway 2017–20 White House Communications Director Sean Spicer 2017 Steve Bannon 2017 Michael Dubke 2017 Johnny DeStefano 2018–19 Anthony Scaramucci 2017 Hope Hicks 2020–21 Hope Hicks 2017–18 Derek Lyons 2020–21 Bill Shine 2018–19 Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning Jared Kushner 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Senior Advisor, Policy Stephen Miller 2017–21 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 2017 Senior Advisor, Economic Issues Kevin Hassett 2020 Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19 Advisor Ivanka Trump 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20 Director, Public Liaison George Sifakis 2017 Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21 Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017 Justin R. Clark 2018 Raj Shah 2017–19 Steve Munisteri 2018–19 Hogan Gidley 2019–20 Tim Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Justin R. Clark 2017–18 Director, Strategic Communications Hope Hicks 2017 Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21 Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19 Director, National Economic Council Gary Cohn 2017–18 Alyssa Farah 2020 Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media Dan Scavino 2017–19 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs Marc Short 2017–18 Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20 Shahira Knight 2018–19 Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21 Eric Ueland 2019–20 Chair, Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg 2017–19 Amy Swonger 2020–21 Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs Bill Stepien 2017–18 Brooke Rollins 2020–21 Brian Jack 2019–21 Director, National Trade Council Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director, Presidential Personnel Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 White House Counsel Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20 Emmet Flood 2018 John McEntee 2020–21 Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18 White House Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21 Matthew J. Flynn 2019 White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter 2017–18 Kristan King Nevins 2019–21 Derek Lyons 2018–21 Personal Aide to the President John McEntee 2017–18 Director, Science & Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2018 Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios 2019–21 Nick Luna 2018–19 Director, Management & Budget Mick Mulvaney 2017–19 Director, Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller 2017 Russell Vought 2019–21 Jordan Karem 2017–19 Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent 2018–20 Madeleine Westerhout 2019 United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer 2017–21 Nick Luna 2019–21 Director, National Drug Control Policy James W. Carroll 2018–21 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20 Chair , Council on Environmental Quality Mary Neumayr 2018–21 Stephanie Grisham 2020–21 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Josh Pitcock 2017 White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21 Nick Ayers 2017–19 White House Chief Usher Angella Reid † 2017 Marc Short 2019–21 Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21 Physician to the President Ronny Jackson † 2017–18 COVID-19 Medical Advisors Deborah Birx 2020–21 Sean Conley 2018–21 Anthony Fauci 2020–21 Director, White House Military Office Keith Davids 2017–21 Scott Atlas 2020–21
Media related to Madeleine Westerhout at Wikimedia Commons
