Trump appoints Indian-American in White House

Previously a deputy assistant to the President of the United States of America (US), Raj Shah will now also serve as the principal deputy press secretary at the White House.

A person of Indian origin, Raj Shah has been appointed in by US President Donald Trump to head a key position in the communications team at the White House.

Shah will work alongside Trump’s confidant Hope Hicks, who has been appointed as the communications director. Hicks was previously the assistant to the President and interim communications director.

“Raj Shah will serve as deputy assistant to the president and principal deputy press secretary,” the White House said in a statement.

Shah formerly served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy communications director.

The position of assistant to the president  and the senior advisor for strategic communications has been given to Mercedes Schlapp, a Fox News contributor and columnist for The Washington Times.

Shah, 32, was one of the few aides of Trump who landed in White House within hours of him being sworn in as the 45th President of the US on January 20.

Along with  Hope Hicks and Eli Miller , Shah was identified as one of the three West Wing Power Player in the White House, in April.

Shah’s parents had migrated to the US from the western Indian state of Gujarat in the 1980s. He was born and brought up in Connecticut. His father is an engineer.

Shah was director of opposition research in the Republican National Committee before moving to the White House.