Trump Says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to Leave at End of August/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August to spend more time with her family. The 28-year-old, the youngest person to hold the role, recently returned after giving birth to her second child. President Donald Trump said Leavitt will remain a top outside adviser and an influential Republican voice ahead of the midterms.
Quick Look
- Karoline Leavitt will leave the White House press secretary role at month’s end.
- At 28, she is the youngest person to serve in the position.
- Leavitt recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth in May.
- She said the role’s demands made it difficult to give her children the attention they deserve.
- Trump described Leavitt as one of his “most trusted aides.”
- She will continue working with Trump as an outside adviser.
- Trump said she will remain active in Republican politics before the midterms.
- No successor has been announced.
- Leavitt previously worked for Trump’s 2024 campaign and MAGA Inc.
- She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022.
Deep Look
Leavitt to depart White House at month’s end
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave the administration at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.
Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary and has been one of the administration’s most prominent public representatives.
Her departure comes shortly after she returned from a brief maternity leave following the birth of her second child in May.
Trump did not identify a replacement for the high-profile position.
Trump calls Leavitt one of his most trusted aides
Leavitt has been a highly visible advocate for Trump and his “Make America Great Again” political movement.
In a social media announcement, the Republican president described her as one of his “most trusted aides.”
Trump said 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! 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.”
The statement indicates that Leavitt will remain closely connected to Trump and his political operation after leaving government.
Family responsibilities drive decision
Leavitt returned to the White House after taking leave following the birth of her daughter in May.
She also has a 2-year-old son.
In announcing her decision, Leavitt said she struggled to balance the constant responsibilities of the press secretary’s job with parenting two young children.
“The truth is 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,” Leavitt said in a social media post.
The White House press secretary position involves frequent briefings, extensive travel, long working hours and responsibility for communicating the administration’s message during rapidly developing events.
Leavitt will remain an outside Trump adviser
Although Leavitt is leaving her official government role, Trump said she will become one of his leading outside advisers.
He also predicted she would remain an influential figure within the Republican Party as the administration and GOP prepare for the midterm elections.
The arrangement allows Leavitt to continue advising Trump and promoting his agenda without the daily demands associated with managing the White House press operation.
Her departure therefore represents a change in role rather than a complete separation from Trump’s political circle.
No successor announced
Trump did not say who would replace Leavitt.
The press secretary serves as the administration’s principal public spokesperson and typically conducts televised briefings with the White House press corps.
The next press secretary will inherit the responsibility of defending Trump’s policies and responding to questions about major domestic and international issues during a politically consequential midterm election year.
The lack of an immediate successor leaves uncertainty about whether Trump will promote someone within the communications operation or select an outside political figure.
Leavitt became a prominent MAGA spokesperson
Before joining the White House, Leavitt established herself as a forceful defender of Trump and his political movement.
She served as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trumpbefore joining his 2024 presidential campaign.
Her frequent television appearances and combative media style helped make her one of Trump’s most recognizable younger allies.
After Trump returned to the White House, Leavitt became the public face of the administration’s press operation.
Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire
Leavitt sought elected office in New Hampshire in 2022.
She won a crowded 10-candidate Republican primary for a U.S. House seat, demonstrating strong support among the party’s conservative base.
Leavitt later lost the general election to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
The campaign increased her national political profile and strengthened her ties to Trump-aligned Republican organizations.
Previous White House and congressional experience
Leavitt had already worked in presidential communications before becoming press secretary.
During Trump’s first administration, she served as a press aide in the White House press office.
She later became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, another prominent Trump ally.
Those positions provided experience in both executive-branch and congressional messaging before she joined Trump’s reelection operation.
Youngest person to hold the role
Leavitt made history by becoming White House press secretary at 27.
Her appointment reflected Trump’s reliance on younger political operatives who had built their careers within the MAGA movement.
As press secretary, she defended the president’s agenda, confronted critical media coverage and communicated the White House position during a period dominated by major domestic and international controversies.
Her tenure will end after less than two years, but Trump’s announcement suggests she will retain political influence as an adviser outside the administration.
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