Outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt marked her upcoming departure from the administration with a social media post showing a celebratory gathering hosted by podcaster Katie Miller. Leavitt, who is the youngest person to serve in the role, is scheduled to officially leave her position at the end of August.
Leavitt stated that her decision to step down was motivated by a desire to focus on her family after welcoming her second child in May. Following her exit, she intends to rejoin MAGA Inc., a super PAC—a type of independent political action committee that can raise unlimited sums of money—affiliated with President Donald Trump, ahead of the November midterm elections.
During the gathering, Leavitt shared images of a custom cake designed to look like the White House briefing room lectern and cookies featuring the phrase "no more questions." The event host, Katie Miller, is the wife of Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff. Stephen Miller recently described Leavitt as both a colleague and a close friend.
While President Trump has not yet named a replacement for the press secretary role, several potential successors have been mentioned. These include CNN commentator Scott Jennings, White House communications advisor Margo Martin, and deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. Jennings declined to comment on the speculation during a Sunday appearance on CNN, though he praised Leavitt’s performance in the role.
The vacancy in this high-profile office is part of a broader trend of staff turnover within the administration. Several other officials, including the director of legislative affairs, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney, and the White House counsel, have also recently announced their departures. An unnamed former administration official told Politico that such moves often occur as staffers anticipate shifts in congressional control and look toward future career opportunities before the presidential term ends in 2029.
For the American public and members of the media, the change will be most noticeable in the daily televised briefings and the tone of official White House communications. A new press secretary may bring a different approach to answering questions or managing media relations during a critical election cycle. A final decision on Leavitt's successor has not been announced, but the transition will be finalized when she officially leaves her post on August 31.