In a social media post announcing the hire, Trump’s office said Harrison has “maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Lady’s team over the past seven years.” 

“She has a strong understanding of White House operations, and as Chief of Staff, Mrs. Harrison will oversee and manage the East Wing’s team while strategically liaising with other parts of government,” The statement read.

Hayley Harrison has been appointed as First Lady Melania Trump’s Chief of Staff.

Mrs. Harrison has maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Lady’s team over the past seven years. She has a strong understanding of White House operations, and as…

— Office of Melania Trump (@OfficeofMelania) November 22, 2024

This is Trump’s first hire in her upcoming office since President-elect Donald Trump’s win two weeks ago.

Harrison was referred to as Trump Aide 1 in Donald Trump’s indictment for his alleged mishandling of classified documents case. According to court filings, Harrison texted another Trump aide about moving the classified documents out of the business center at Mar-a-Lago to make more room for staff to work, allegedly texting the staffer, “There is still a little room in the shower where his other stuff is.”

Melania’s former chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, spoke at the Democratic National Convention this year and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Grisham resigned from her role on the evening of Jan. 6, 2021, after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. She later revealed during her testimony to the Jan. 6 Committee that she resigned because of the conduct of Trump and his advisers on that day. 

Melania Trump has previously said she will not move back to the White House this time around, opting to split the majority of her time between New York City and Palm Beach, Florida. She also did not attend the meeting between President Joe Biden and her husband at the White House earlier this month. 

She has maintained a low profile since leaving the East Wing in 2021, having hardly been seen on the campaign trail during Trump’s third presidential run.