White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August, President Donald Trump has announced, as she prepares to spend more time with her young children and family.
Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said he understood and respected her decision to step away from the demanding position.
The president said Leavitt would remain involved in his political circle as an outside adviser and would continue to play an influential role within the Republican Party.
Leavitt, 28, became White House press secretary last year, making her the youngest person to hold the position. The White House has not yet announced who will succeed her.
Family Influences Decision
Leavitt gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, also have a two year old son. She returned to work last month after taking maternity leave.
Following Trump’s announcement, Leavitt described her time as press secretary as an extraordinary experience but said balancing motherhood with one of the most demanding positions in government had become increasingly difficult.
She said she had concluded that she could not give her children the attention they deserved while meeting the intense demands of serving as the White House’s chief spokesperson.
Leavitt said the decision was difficult but represented the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Longstanding Relationship With Trump
Leavitt has worked with Trump for several years. During his first administration, she served as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter.
She later became communications director for New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik before launching an unsuccessful congressional campaign in New Hampshire in 2022. Leavitt won the Republican primary but lost the general election to Democrat Chris Pappas.
She subsequently worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro Trump fundraising organisation, before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary.
Combative Relationship With Media
During her tenure at the White House, Leavitt developed a reputation for frequently challenging journalists and accusing some members of the media of political bias.
Her administration of the White House press operation also generated controversy. In February, the White House took control of the press pool’s organisational responsibilities from the White House Correspondents’ Association.
The Associated Press was also temporarily excluded from some White House access after declining to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology, including the use of “Gulf of America” instead of the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump supporters, however, frequently praised Leavitt for defending the administration’s policies and maintaining the president’s political messaging during press briefings.
She is the second longest serving press secretary across Trump’s two administrations, behind former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Replacement Yet to Be Announced
It remains unclear who will become Trump’s next press secretary. During Leavitt’s maternity leave earlier this year, several senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, took turns addressing reporters at the White House.
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who described Leavitt as a close friend and role model, said she would remain an important part of Trump’s political operation.
“We’re going to continue working together every single day,” Miller said, adding that he was looking forward to seeing what Leavitt does next.
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