Quick Summary
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of August, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post, ending a tenure in which the 28-year-old became the youngest person to ever hold the position. According to NBC News, the announcement came less than a month after Leavitt returned from maternity leave following the birth of her second child on May 1. Trump said Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party heading into November’s midterm elections, though neither Trump nor Leavitt indicated who might succeed her in the briefing room.
What Happened
Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides in the Truth Social post announcing her departure, saying she is leaving so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision he said he totally understood and respected, according to CNN. Leavitt confirmed the decision in her own post on X, calling the role the honor and adventure of a lifetime and thanking Trump for the opportunity to serve in his administration, according to ABC News.
Trump praised her performance in the role directly, calling her one of the best press secretaries in the history of the office and thanking her for a job well done, according to ABC News. Vice President JD Vance also weighed in publicly, writing on X that Leavitt has one of the hardest jobs in the administration, adding that he understood how difficult yet rewarding a constant job like hers can be for a young parent, according to Axios.
Background
Leavitt made history when she assumed the press secretary role at the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position at 27 years old, according to ABC News. Before that, she served as press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and had previously worked as an assistant White House press secretary during his first term, according to Wikipedia. She also ran for Congress in her home state of New Hampshire before joining Trump’s 2024 campaign, ultimately losing that general election race, according to ABC News.
Her tenure included several of the defining controversies of Trump’s second term. According to Axios, she defended the White House through multiple major stories, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files, and the ongoing Iran war. During the 2024 campaign, Leavitt gave birth to her first child and returned to work just four days into her maternity leave following the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to NBC News.
During her most recent maternity leave earlier this year, the White House did not name a formal interim press secretary, instead relying on a rotating cast of senior officials, including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to handle briefings, according to CNN. Those guest appearances came with what CNN described as varying levels of success, and press briefings themselves became notably less frequent during that stretch.
Why It Matters
Leavitt’s departure represents a significant shakeup to Trump’s press operation at a politically sensitive moment, arriving less than three months before the November midterm elections, according to CNN. As one of the president’s closest and most visible aides, her exit removes a consistently loyal public defender of the administration just as Republicans work to hold onto control of Congress.
Trump’s decision to keep Leavitt engaged as an outside adviser and Republican Party messenger, rather than have her simply exit public life, suggests the administration intends to continue leveraging her communication skills and public profile through the midterms, even without the formal title. Her history of navigating major controversies from inside the briefing room positions her as a experienced surrogate voice heading into a high-stakes election cycle, even as her successor in the press secretary role remains unnamed.
Expert & Official Reaction
Trump’s statement: The president wrote that Leavitt will now be one of his top outside advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party as the administration works to win the midterm elections.
Leavitt’s own statement: She described the role as the honor and adventure of a lifetime, thanked Trump for the opportunity, and, according to Axios, took aim at Democrats in her departure statement, saying they seek to destroy everything great about America.
Vice President Vance: He said Leavitt has one of the hardest jobs in the administration and acknowledged how difficult yet rewarding such a demanding role can be for a young parent.
Secretary of State Rubio: He praised Leavitt as a critical part of the administration’s work, according to ABC News.
Statistics & Context
- Leavitt’s age: 28
- Age when she first assumed the role in January 2025: 27, making her the youngest press secretary in U.S. history
- Months served in the role before announcing her departure: approximately 19
- Number of her children: 2, with her second child born May 1, 2026
- Days she returned to work after her first maternity leave, following the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump: 4
- Number of press secretaries Trump had during his first term (2017-2021): 4
What’s Next
It remains unclear who Trump will select to replace Leavitt as press secretary, with White House staff reportedly unaware of a successor as of Wednesday afternoon, according to CNN. Leavitt is expected to transition into her new role as an outside adviser and Republican Party messenger ahead of the November midterms, a shift that will keep her in the political spotlight even without the formal title. Her replacement will take on the position without requiring Senate confirmation, since the press secretary is chosen directly by the president.
FAQ
When is Karoline Leavitt leaving her role?
At the end of August 2026.
Why is she stepping down?
She said she wants to spend more time with her young children and family, having recently returned from maternity leave after the birth of her second child.
What will she do next?
Trump said she will become one of his top outside advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections.
How long did she serve as press secretary?
Approximately 19 months, having assumed the role at the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025.
Who will replace her?
It has not yet been announced. As of Wednesday, White House staff reportedly did not know who Trump would select as her successor.
Editorial Note: This article was prepared using publicly available information from news organizations and official statements available at the time of publication.
Sources:
NBC News: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to step down
CNN: Why Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House
ABC News: Trump announces White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stepping down