Karoline Leavitt is stepping down from her role as White House press secretary. President Trump announced her departure in a Truth Social post on Aug. 12, writing: “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!”
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Trump went on to highlight Leavitt’s continued role in the administration as “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 Leavitt for her exceptional service, not only as press secretary but also in various key roles dating back to 2018. Trump called her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
At 27 years old, when she assumed office in January 2025, Leavitt became the youngest person ever to serve as White House Press Secretary. Unlike the high turnover seen in Trump’s first term, Leavitt’s exit comes on exceptionally warm terms.
She called her resignation “bittersweet” in a post on X, expressing deep gratitude for her time at the podium. “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.
Leavitt’s decision stems from a desire to focus on her growing family. Leavitt and her husband have a young son and a newborn daughter born in May.
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Many in Washington congratulated Leavitt on her tenure. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller commended her in a Fox News interview, saying: “She has served this president so well, this administration so well, this country so well, and very importantly, she’s been a role model to millions and millions of young women all across this country, a mother, a family woman, a press secretary, a patriot, really in every way, an extraordinary person.”
The Trump administration has not yet officially announced a successor to fill Leavitt’s shoes. However, political observers are speculating on potential picks, including Trump’s former personal attorney Alina Habba, political commentator Scott Jennings, and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, have also been mentioned as possibilities in recent prediction markets.
Though Leavitt is stepping away from the daily sparring in the briefing room, her influence in conservative politics is far from over. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, her voice will remain pivotal to the administration’s strategy, just from a different podium. In her statement on X, Leavit also noted that she “will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party.”
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