Philip Rucker named National editor of The Washington Post

In his new position, Rucker will build on the department’s vibrant and award-winning work, which was recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes this year. He will also spearhead The Post’s first-class coverage of the 2024 election and ongoing challenges to the democratic system.

“We are thrilled Phil will be The Post’s next National editor. He is an exceptional leader and keen editor with a gift for mobilizing ambitious journalism,” said Sally Buzbee, executive editor at The Washington Post. “Phil is a champion of The Post and its mission, and we are confident that National will continue to excel under his leadership.”

Rucker said, “I am honored to lead the immensely talented National staff at this consequential time for our country. Together we will continue to produce urgent and illuminating coverage of America, its people and its institutions -- through agenda-setting scoops, swift breaking news reporting, penetrating investigations and engrossing narratives.”

Rucker’s appointment to National editor extends his extraordinary 18-year career at The Post.

As deputy National editor since January 2022, Rucker demonstrated superb judgment, a high-metabolism approach to newsgathering and an inclusive and collaborative style. While helping steer the department, he deftly ran The Post’s coverage of a raft of high-stakes federal investigations and helped guide complex reporting on multiple fronts.

Before taking on his current role, Rucker produced some of The Post’s most revelatory political journalism, serving as White House bureau chief for four years and senior Washington correspondent for a year. His reporting took readers inside President Donald Trump’s administration, chronicling the tumult of the White House and the impact of major policy decisions.

Rucker’s work has been recognized with numerous awards. He was one of the anchors of The Post’s investigative series about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service, a George Polk Award and a Robin Toner Award. He was also part of the team of national security, investigative and political reporters awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and a Polk Award for coverage of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

In addition to his work for The Post, Rucker partnered with national investigative reporter Carol Leonnig to write two best-selling books about the Trump presidency, “A Very Stable Genius” in 2020 and “I Alone Can Fix It” in 2021. For the past several years, Rucker has been a political analyst on NBC News and MSNBC, where he will continue to promote Post journalism.