Michael LaRosa
{{Short description|American journalist and political advisor}}
{{For|the Belgian footballer|Michael La Rosa}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Michael LaRosa
| image = Michael LaRosa, White House Press Secretary to the First Lady.jpg
| office = Press Secretary for the First Lady
| term_start = January 20, 2021
| term_end = July 31, 2022
| education = Seton Hall University (BA)
American University (MA)
| predecessor = Stephanie Grisham (2020)
| president = Joe Biden
| 1blankname = First Lady
| 1namedata = Jill Biden
}}
Michael LaRosa is an American journalist and political advisor who was the press secretary for the First Lady in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2022.{{Cite web|title=Jill Biden announces more key staff for East Wing|url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/jill-biden-announces-more-key-staff-for-east-wing|access-date=2021-01-14|website=CBS58|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Puente|first=Maria|title=Incoming first lady Jill Biden names staff, signals military support on agenda|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/01/14/jill-biden-flotus-names-staff-signals-military-support/4163196001/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}} LaRosa previously worked as a spokesman for Jill Biden and the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign.{{Cite news|last=Gigot|first=Paul A.|date=2020-12-13|title=Opinion {{!}} The Biden Team Strikes Back|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-biden-team-strikes-back-11607900812|access-date=2021-01-14|issn=0099-9660}}
In February 2025, LaRosa claimed the Biden campaign was “gaslighting” the public and the press by playing down concerns over the president’s age and cognitive ability. He admitted that such concerns, which became apparent during Joe Biden’s disastrous presidential debate with Donald Trump, were in fact shared by administration officials.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-28 |title=White House was ‘gaslighting’ public about concerns over Biden’s age, insider says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-campaign-age-concerns-gaslighting-b2706781.html |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
Education
LaRosa attended Easton Area School District schools in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, graduating from Easton Area High School in 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and communications from Seton Hall University and a Master of Arts in political science and government from American University. During high school and college, LaRosa was a competitive swimmer.{{Cite web|last=Express-Times|first=Michael LoRe {{!}} The|date=2012-12-31|title=Catching Up With: Former Easton Area High School district champion swimmer Michael LaRosa|url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/2012/12/catching_up_with_former_easton_8.html|access-date=2021-01-14|website=lehighvalleylive|language=en}}
Career
LaRosa began his career in politics as an intern for Hillary Clinton's re-election campaign for the United States Senate. He later worked as a personal assistant to Representative Melissa Bean and a scheduler for Kirsten Gillibrand. He also worked as special assistant to the deputy director of the United States Office of Personnel Management.{{Cite web|last=Ogrysko|first=Michael O'Connell and Nicole|title=PodcastOne: #62 - Michael LaRosa, segment producer, Hardball with Chris Matthews|url=https://www.podcastone.com/episode/62---Michael-LaRosa,-segment-producer,-Hardball-with-Chris-Matthews|access-date=2021-01-15|website=www.podcastone.com|language=en}}
LaRosa worked as a segment producer and writer for Hardball with Chris Matthews.{{Cite web|last=ItsAllJournalism|date=2013-10-19|title=#62 - Michael LaRosa morphs from political to journalism junkie|url=https://itsalljournalism.com/michael-larosa-morphs-from-political-to-journalism-junkie/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=It's All Journalism|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121194021/https://itsalljournalism.com/michael-larosa-morphs-from-political-to-journalism-junkie/|url-status=dead}} From 2017 to 2019, he was the communications director for Senator Maria Cantwell. He was also the communications director for the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.{{Cite web|last=Mullen|first=Hilary|date=2018-04-18|title=Former MSNBC Producer to Headline Capital City Pride's April Speaker Series|url=https://www.capitalcitypride.org/single-post/2018/10/07/former-msnbc-producer-to-headline-capital-city-pride-s-april-speaker-series|access-date=2021-01-14|website=Capital City Pride|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302074348/https://www.capitalcitypride.org/single-post/2018/10/07/former-msnbc-producer-to-headline-capital-city-pride-s-april-speaker-series|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Tuesday's Juice|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/20/playbook-juice-june-20-239744|access-date=2021-01-14|website=POLITICO|date=20 June 2017 |language=en}} From April to November 2019, he was the deputy director of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. He joined the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign in November 2019, working as chief spokesman and traveling press secretary for Jill Biden.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=19 August 2020|title=Who is Dr. Jill Biden?|url=https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog-post/who-dr-jill-biden|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121000945/https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog-post/who-dr-jill-biden|archive-date=2021-01-21|access-date=2021-01-14|website=www.pbs.org|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-14|title=Jill Biden Announces Additional Members of the Office of the First Lady|url=https://buildbackbetter.gov/press-releases/jill-biden-announces-additional-members-of-the-office-of-the-first-lady/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=President-Elect Joe Biden|language=en-US}} In January 2021, LaRosa was selected to serve as Press Secretary for the First Lady in the incoming Biden administration. On July 31, 2022, LaRosa resigned as press secretary for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.{{Cite web |author=Kate Bennett |title=First on CNN: Jill Biden's press secretary leaving White House |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/michael-larosa-leaving-the-white-house/index.html |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=CNN|date=26 July 2022 }}{{cite tweet |user=MichaelLaRosa46 |first=Michael |last=LaRosa |number=1553719488213811200 |title=Signing off for now! |access-date=2022-12-27}}
References
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Category:Seton Hall University alumni
Category:American University alumni
Category:Biden administration personnel
Category:Employees of the United States Senate
Category:First Lady of the United States press secretaries
Category:Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign
Category:Politicians from Easton, Pennsylvania
Category:United States Office of Management and Budget officials