Politics December 15, 2016
Kimberly Guilfoyle may be the next U.S. press secretary and join the growing list of women in the Trump Administration. But where does that leave Kellyanne Conway, the female political powerhouse previously connected to the job?
Reports have been released that Guilfoyle, a FOX News host, is a contender for the White House position. She is “expected to have a third meeting with his transition team this week,” according to Politico sources.
Her appointment would give women more voice in politics, a male-dominated field. While female representation in U.S. government is growing, other countries currently have higher rates of women in legislative positions.
“The U.S. is one country that lags the global average of women in the national legislature,” according to The Washington Post. “It ranks behind 95 countries, including low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia, El Salvador and Suriname.”
READ MORE: 6 Diverse Women in Washington Trump Patriarchy
Guilfoyle is one of the faces for the show “The Five,” a FOX news program which took the time slot of Glen Beck’s previous show. Guilfoyle and her four co-hosts discuss their thoughts on current events with a roundtable approach. She is also a legal analyst for the rotating panel, comprised of mostly female voices, on FNC’s “Outnumbered.”
Prior to her prominent broadcast roles, Guilfoyle has served as an assistant district attorney and San Francisco first lady. She is also wrote the best selling book “Making the Case: How to Be Your Own Best Advocate” and has received numerous awards such as Outstanding Woman of the Year from the City of San Francisco, Prosecutor of the Month as deputy district attorney in Los Angeles and 2005 USO Entertainer of the Year
Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former campaign manager, was previously reported to be in the running for the press secretary position. However, Conway confirmed that she turned down the position, stating that a senior position may stand in the way of her role as a mother.
“Before I can accept that job, I have to recognize that I’m a mother of four children who are at very tender, very fraught ages – 12, 12, 8 and 7 – and I can’t just say, ‘Oh, but they’ll be OK,'” she told The New York Times. “Someone else will take care of them.”
READ MORE: Kellyanne Conway Breaks Glass Ceiling as Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager
Despite reports that Guilfolye may fill the job Conway turned down, Sean Spicer is still the leading candidate for the high-profile role. Spicer is the Republican National Committee and Trump transition spokesman. Supporters of Guilfoyle argue that she is better fit for the position than her white male competitor, according to Politico.
“Do you want a white male representing the White House when half the country thinks the President is a misogynist?” a Trump representative said. “Guilfoyle champion in Trump’s inner circle. Who do you want talking about Immigration? A Latino. When you have to make decisions about pro-life justices, do you want a man or a woman?”
While neither Guilfolye nor Spicer have been confirmed as the incoming press secretary, the Trump Administration has projected to fill all of the top roles by end of the week. If Guilfoye snags the position, she will continue the trend of increased female representation in the next administration.
