Karoline Leavitt to Leave White House as Press Secretary, Citing Family and Young Children
WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to leave the Trump administration at the end of August, ending a high-profile tenure as one of the youngest press secretaries in U.S. history.
Leavitt, 28, announced the “bittersweet decision” Wednesday, saying she wants to spend more time with her young family after returning to the White House following the birth of her second child.
In a statement shared on social media, Leavitt said the demands of serving as White House press secretary made it difficult to give her two young children the time and attention she believes they deserve.
“I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve” while meeting the demands of the job, Leavitt said.
Leavitt and her husband welcomed their daughter, Viviana, in May. The couple also has a 2-year-old son.
Trump Says Leavitt Will Remain a Key Ally
President Donald Trump said he understood and respected Leavitt’s decision to step down.
Trump also made clear that her departure does not mean the end of her political career. He said Leavitt would become one of his top outside advisers and remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as his administration prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
The president has not yet announced who will succeed Leavitt as White House press secretary.
From MAGA Campaigns to the White House Podium
Leavitt’s political career has advanced rapidly.
Before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, she worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC. She previously served in the White House press office during Trump’s first term and later became communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York.
In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire. She won a crowded Republican primary but ultimately lost the general election to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
Her return to the White House press room in 2025 made her one of the most visible young figures in the Trump administration.
A Different Style Behind the Briefing Room
Leavitt’s approach to the press secretary role differed from several of Trump’s previous press secretaries.
While figures such as Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders became known for frequent clashes with reporters, Leavitt appeared less frequently at the White House briefing podium.
Trump himself regularly interacted with journalists during events and trips, while Leavitt was frequently deployed to conservative television networks to promote the administration’s agenda and criticize Democrats and mainstream media outlets.
Her departure now leaves Trump with a major communications position to fill at a politically crucial moment.
For Leavitt, however, the next chapter appears to be centered less on the White House podium and more on her family — while keeping a significant role in Trump’s political orbit.
The Digginator Take: Karoline Leavitt’s exit marks a major shake-up in Trump’s communications team, but her continued role as an outside adviser suggests this may be less of a political goodbye and more of a strategic step back from the daily pressures of the White House.