Karoline Leavitt will leave her position as White House press secretary at the end of August, US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, bringing an end to the tenure of one of the most prominent and outspoken defenders of his MAGA movement.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Leavitt was stepping down to spend more time with her young children and family, adding that it was “a decision I totally understand and respect!” He also said she would remain one of his top outside advisers and continue to have an influential role within the Republican Party.
Leavitt, 28, became White House press secretary in January 2025 at the age of 27, making her the youngest person ever to hold the position. She recently returned from parental leave after giving birth to her second child, a daughter, on May 1. She also has a 2-year-old son.
In a statement posted on X, Leavitt described her time as press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She said she was grateful to Trump for the opportunity to work in the West Wing, spend time in the Oval Office, travel around the world and meet foreign leaders, as well as visit communities across the United States.
But she said becoming a mother of two had forced her to reconsider whether she could continue in a job demanding constant attention. Leavitt said she had realized that she could not be the mother her children deserved while devoting the “constant time, energy, and attention” required by the White House position.
