White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. The president stated in a social media post that Leavitt is departing to spend more time with her family, a decision he said he respects. Trump further announced that Leavitt will transition into a role as one of his top outside advisors and remain a voice within the Republican Party.
Leavitt, 28, became the youngest person to serve as White House Press Secretary when she took the role last year. She previously served as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter during Trump’s first term and as communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). After an unsuccessful 2022 congressional run in New Hampshire, she served as a spokesperson for the pro-Trump fundraising group Maga Inc and as national press secretary for his 2024 campaign.
In a statement on X, Leavitt described her tenure as the "honor and adventure of a lifetime" but noted the difficulty of balancing the role with motherhood. She recently returned from maternity leave in July after welcoming her second child in May. Leavitt said that since her return, she felt she could not fulfill the requirements of the job while providing the attention her two young children deserve.
During her tenure, Leavitt maintained a focused approach to administration messaging, though she had a sometimes combative relationship with the press. In February last year, her office took control of the White House press pool from the White House Correspondents' Association and initially barred the Associated Press over a terminology dispute regarding the "Gulf of America." She is the second longest-serving press secretary across both Trump administrations, surpassed only by Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
A new press secretary will change the daily interaction between the administration and the media, which could influence how government decisions are communicated to taxpayers and voters. When Leavitt was on maternity leave for seven weeks earlier this year, senior officials including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio filled the role at the podium. A permanent successor will be responsible for defending the administration’s platform and responding to inquiries about the economy, healthcare, and national security, which directly affects how the public perceives and understands federal leadership.
The administration has not yet named a replacement for what will be Trump’s sixth chief spokesperson across two terms. The move sets a precedent for high-level staff managing the balance between demanding federal service and family obligations. While Leavitt will remain an advisor, her departure from the daily briefing room marks a shift in the administration's public-facing personnel. The BBC reported that the White House has been contacted regarding the selection timeline for a successor, but no specific date for a new appointment has been established. Leavitt’s departure is effective at the end of August 2026.