White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave the Trump administration at the end of August, saying her decision was driven by the need to devote more time to her two young children.
Leavitt, 28, announced her departure on Wednesday, describing it as a “bittersweet decision” that followed months of trying to balance the intense demands of the White House job with family responsibilities.
President Donald Trump confirmed her departure in a separate social media post but did not announce a replacement.
Leavitt returned to the White House press operation earlier this year after giving birth to her second child, a daughter, Viviana, in May. She also has a two-year-old son.
In explaining her decision, she said motherhood had made her reassess the demands of her position.
“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 said.
She said she had therefore decided to leave the administration and begin a new chapter in her life.
Trump, however, indicated that Leavitt would remain involved in his political activities.
The president said she would become one of his leading outside advisers and continue to have an influential role within the Republican Party.
He also praised her expected contribution as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections.
Leavitt’s departure marks the end of a rapid ascent in Republican politics. She worked in the White House press office during Trump’s first term before becoming communications director for Republican Representative Elise Stefanik of New York.
She later joined Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and served as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC.
Before returning to the White House, Leavitt had also attempted to enter Congress.
In 2022, she won a 10-way Republican primary in New Hampshire but was defeated in the general election by Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas.
Fewer briefings, greater media presence
Leavitt’s tenure as press secretary was marked by a communications strategy that placed less emphasis on traditional White House briefings than some previous administrations.
Although she addressed reporters from the White House, Trump frequently took questions himself during public events and overseas trips.
Leavitt instead became a regular presence on Fox News and other conservative media outlets, where she promoted the administration’s policies and defended the president against criticism from Democrats and mainstream news organisations.
Her style followed a tradition of confrontational White House press secretaries associated with Trump’s political movement.
Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served during Trump’s first term, regularly engaged in heated exchanges with reporters.
Stephanie Grisham did not conduct a formal White House briefing during her tenure, while Kayleigh McEnany became known for aggressively challenging journalists during press conferences.
With Leavitt’s departure now scheduled for the end of August, the White House faces the task of selecting a new press secretary for the remainder of Trump’s term.
No successor had been announced at the time of her resignation, although Trump’s decision to retain Leavitt as an outside adviser suggests she is expected to remain active in his political orbit.
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