U.S. State Department Appoints Thomas “Tommy” Pigott as New Spokesperson

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of State announced the appointment of Thomas “Tommy” Pigott as the new State Department Spokesperson on April 24, 2026. Pigott, who previously served as Principal Deputy Spokesperson, assumed the role following an announcement from the Office of the Spokesperson.

In his new capacity, Pigott is tasked with speaking directly to audiences both domestically and internationally on how the State Department is advancing President Trump’s foreign policy under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio. His responsibilities include spearheading engagements with the Department’s press corps and broader media, in addition to providing strategic input on communications and messaging.

Pigott first joined the Department and the Trump administration in January 2025, serving as Principal Deputy Spokesperson. He brings almost a decade of communications experience to the position, having previously worked on President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign and at the Republican National Committee (RNC). During his tenure as Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Pigott issued press statements on various critical foreign policy issues, including:

• Countering criminal networks: Deploying sanctions to disrupt a transnational criminal network fueling the illicit fentanyl crisis, and imposing sanctions related to online scam centers in Southeast Asia.
• Global Security: Announcing U.S. sanctions against Iran’s oil trade network and its weapons procurement networks.
• Humanitarian and Health Policy: Reaffirming that PEPFAR is a “lifesaving program that will continue”, announcing a $200 million contribution to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF), and issuing a press statement on sanctions against paramilitary commanders for atrocities in Sudan.
• Diplomacy: Discussing U.S. commitment to a Joint Oversight Committee for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, and efforts to establish a Gang Suppression Force in Haiti.

Hailing from New Jersey, Pigott is an academic with a bachelor’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree from the George Washington University’s School of Media & Public Affairs.