White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of August to transition into a senior external advisory role, President Trump announced Wednesday. Trump revealed the personnel decision in a post on Truth Social, explaining that Leavitt is leaving to focus on her young family following the birth of her second child in May. At 27, Leavitt holds the distinction of being the youngest individual ever to serve as White House press secretary.
In his announcement, Trump praised her tenure and confirmed her continued involvement with his administration’s political agenda. “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!” Trump wrote. He noted that “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections”. Trump praised her work “fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024,” calling her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office”.
Addressing her departure on social media, Leavitt reflected on her time at the briefing room podium and the challenge of balancing executive duties with parenting. “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” she stated on X. She explained that “since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life”. She added that she “will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party”.
Prior to her appointment as press secretary in 2025, Leavitt worked as an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first administration and later served as national press secretary for his 2024 campaign. After taking maternity leave in late April, she resumed formal press briefings at the White House in mid-July. The White House has not yet announced a successor or interim replacement to take over press office duties following her departure at the end of the month.
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