White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of the month, President Donald Trump has announced. Leavitt, whom the president called one of his "most trusted aides," will depart from her role to spend time with her young children and family. Trump stated this decision is one he "totally understand[s] and respect[s]."
Leavitt, 28, welcomed her second child, a baby girl, in May. She also has a two-year-old son. She returned to work from maternity leave last month. The demanding nature of the White House Press Secretary role, especially with two young children, influenced her decision.
This departure marks a significant change in the Trump administration's communications team. Leavitt's role as a key spokesperson has been central to the administration's public image. Her move to an outside advisory position indicates her continued influence within the Republican Party.
President Trump confirmed Leavitt will become one of his "top outside advisors" and an "influential voice within the Republican Party." This suggests a strategic shift rather than a complete disengagement from the political landscape. Her experience and close relationship with Trump will likely be leveraged in future political endeavors.
Leavitt's tenure as White House Press Secretary began last year, making her the youngest person to ever hold the position. Before this role, she had a long career working with Trump, including as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter during his first term. She also served as communications director for New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
In 2022, Leavitt unsuccessfully ran for Congress in New Hampshire. She emerged victorious from a contested Republican primary but ultimately lost to Democrat Chris Pappas. Following this, she became a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump fundraising group, before joining his 2024 electoral campaign as national press secretary.
Leavitt has maintained a sometimes combative relationship with the media during her time in the White House. She has accused some reporters of being biased or left-wing. In February last year, her office took control of the White House press pool, stripping organizational duties from the White House Correspondent's Association. She also initially barred the Associated Press over its refusal to adopt the term "Gulf of America."
Among supporters of the Trump administration, Leavitt was widely praised for remaining "on message" and ferociously defending the president's policies. Fox host and conservative activist Riley Gaines, for example, lauded her performance, stating, "Karoline Leavitt is so good at her job."
Leavitt is the second longest-serving press secretary in either of Trump's administrations, following only Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It is currently unclear who will replace her as Trump's sixth chief spokesperson across his two administrations. During her seven-week maternity leave earlier this year, several senior Trump administration figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, took the podium.
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, called Leavitt a "close friend" and "role model" in an interview with Fox News. He added, "We're going to continue working together every single day. Her story is just beginning. I can't wait to see what her future holds." This indicates a continued collaboration despite her departure from the official press secretary role.