President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her job at the end of the month, reports Mediaite. Trump said she is stepping down to spend more time with her newborn baby.
Trump shared the news in a post on Truth Social, calling Leavitt “one of my most trusted aides.” He said she will now become one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party.
In his post, Trump praised Leavitt’s work, saying she has been “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.” He thanked her for her service and said he understood and respected her decision to leave.
Leavitt explains her decision to leave the White House role
Soon after Trump’s announcement, Leavitt posted her own statement on X. She said serving as press secretary over the past year and a half has been “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” Leavitt thanked Trump for giving her many opportunities, including working in the West Wing, meeting foreign leaders, and traveling across the country to meet Americans. She also said she was proud to speak on the President’s behalf from the White House podium.
Leavitt explained that balancing motherhood with her demanding job had become difficult. She said, “Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least.”
She continued, “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, and 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 said Trump has asked her to keep serving as a top advisor outside the White House. She added, “I will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party.” Leavitt’s high-profile role in the MAGA movement comes as the movement’s public figures face scrutiny, such as when Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed a Republican privately hates Donald Trump.
In her post, Leavitt also spoke about her political views going forward. She said she believes the country faces a serious threat from what she called an “increasingly extremist Democrat Party,” and said she feels it is important to keep fighting for what she believes in. She said, “My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over.”
Leavitt thanked several people in her post, including Trump, the First Lady, and the Trump family. She also thanked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for hiring her during the campaign, along with the President’s cabinet, her staff, colleagues, and friends at the White House.
She said it was a privilege to work alongside them and that she looks forward to supporting them over the next two and a half years. She also thanked her husband and family for their support during her time in the role. Her tenure included notable moments at the White House, such as when the administration turned a cabinet meeting into a hat showcase for Trump’s America 250 merch line.
Leavitt ran as the Republican nominee for a congressional seat in New Hampshire in 2022 but did not win. She later became the spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign before being named press secretary. At 27 years old, she became the youngest person ever to hold the position when Trump appointed her in 2025. She had recently returned to work after taking maternity leave following the birth of her second child.
Published: Aug 13, 2026 12:01 pm