President Trump announced Wednesday that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart at the end of August to focus on her family, remaining one of his top outside advisers.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down at the end of August, President Trump announced Wednesday, closing out one of the most historic tenures in the history of the briefing room podium. Trump said Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her young family, and he made clear she is not going far.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said she will become one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party as the midterms approach.
Trump broke the news himself Wednesday afternoon, writing that Leavitt will depart so she can spend more time with her children and family. He described the choice in characteristically warm terms.
"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 added that Leavitt will now serve as one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party as the administration pushes toward the midterm elections.
Leavitt confirmed the news herself in a statement on X, calling her time at the podium the honor and adventure of a lifetime. She said the decision came down to the demands of the job versus the needs of her 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," Leavitt wrote. "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 gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. She took maternity leave in late April and returned to the briefing room podium in mid-July.
Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in American history when she took the job in January 2025, and she went on to set another first by serving while pregnant, the first press secretary to do so. Her daily briefings became a fixture of Trump's second term, and she quickly became one of the most recognizable faces of the administration.
The 28-year-old had deep roots in Trumpworld long before she took the podium. She served as an assistant press secretary in Trump's first administration under Kayleigh McEnany, later worked as communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik, and was a key spokesperson for Trump's 2024 campaign before stepping into the press secretary role.
During her maternity leave this summer, senior administration officials including Vice President J.D. Vance handled briefing duties, a sign of the bench strength around the president.
Trump said Leavitt will remain one of his top outside advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party as the administration works to win the midterm elections. No successor has been named yet.
Leavitt's departure takes effect at the end of the month, giving the White House a short runway to pick the next person to face the press corps daily. Whoever steps in will inherit one of the most visible jobs in Washington.
For Leavitt, the next chapter starts at home. In her own words, the job was the honor of a lifetime, but the decision was about being present for the people who matter most.
President Trump announced Wednesday that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart at the end of August to focus on her family, remaining one of his top outside advisers.
freedomlinedispatch.com
