Julia Hahn

Hahn was born to a Jewish family,[3][4][5] and grew up in Beverly Hills. She attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.[6] Her grandfather is Harold Honickman, the chairman of Pepsi, who in 2002 was estimated to be worth $850 million,[7] the 277th wealthiest person in America, according to the Forbes 400.[8]

Hahn attended the University of Chicago, studying philosophy.[2] While a student, she also studied in Paris.[9] Hahn's senior thesis at the University of Chicago was on "issues at the intersection of psychoanalysis and post-Foucauldian philosophical inquiry".[9]

Hahn started her career as a producer for The Laura Ingraham Show, which served as an effective pivot for her political interest.[6] Hahn became a press secretary for Virginia Congressman Dave Brat.[2]

In 2015, Hahn began working at Breitbart News as a writer and editor.[10] She followed Steve Bannon to the White House, becoming his deputy policy strategist.[11][10] She remained in the White House after Bannon's departure and worked in a communications position.[12] Writing for Breitbart, Hahn approvingly referenced The Camp of the Saints, a controversial French novel popular among white nationalist circles.[13] She wrote headlines such as "Republican-Led Congress Oversees Large-Scale Importation of Somali Migrants."[11]

According to The New York Times, on entering the White House at age 25, Hahn's financial disclosure forms indicate she had some $1.5 million in stocks including investments in PepsiCo and the State of Israel,[14] as well as a Custodial Bank Account for minors containing between $500,000–$1 million.[15]

In August 2020, The New York Times reported that Hahn compiled binders of talking points for White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.[16]

In January 2021, Hahn was hired on U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty's staff.[17]

In October 2020, the Southern Poverty Law Center published a report to its Hatewatch blog based on leaked emails by Hahn’s former colleague at Breitbart, Katie McHugh. The article alleged that Hahn had connections to prominent white nationalists during her time as a Breitbart reporter and producer for Laura Ingraham. In response to the story, the White House issued a statement on Hahn’s behalf, saying that she “condemns racism and hatred in all forms” and describing the emails as “cherry-picked.”[18]