In a surprise announcement shared via social media, former and current U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her administration post at the end of this month, ending a tenure that made history as the youngest person to ever hold the high-profile communications role.
Leavitt, 28, who welcomed her second child, a daughter, back in May and just returned to work from maternity leave last month, made the decision to step down to prioritize raising her two young children alongside her husband Nicholas Riccio. Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted long-term aides, noting he fully understands and respects her choice to shift focus to family life. Following her departure from the White House communications team, Leavitt will take on a new position as one of Trump’s top outside advisors, and will remain an influential voice within the national Republican Party, the president added.
In a public post on X shared after Trump’s announcement, Leavitt called her time as White House Press Secretary “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She acknowledged that balancing the demands of one of the most high-pressure roles in U.S. politics with new motherhood has been a rewarding but extremely challenging chapter of her life. “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,” she wrote, framing her departure as a bittersweet but necessary choice to start a new life chapter.
Leavitt’s professional history has long been tied to Trump and the Republican Party. She got her start in Trump’s first presidential term, working first as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter before moving on to serve as communications director for top House Republican Elise Stefanik of New York. In 2022, she ran for a congressional seat in New Hampshire, winning a competitive Republican primary but ultimately falling to incumbent Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas in the general election. After her unsuccessful congressional bid, Leavitt took on a role as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a prominent pro-Trump fundraising organization, before stepping in as national press secretary for Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign. She assumed the role of White House Press Secretary one year ago, making history as the youngest person to ever hold the position.
As of the announcement, no candidate has been publicly named to replace Leavitt as White House Press Secretary, and the administration has not yet shared a timeline for naming her successor.
Trump says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to leave post
