Karoline Leavitt to leave White House press secretary post

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of August. US President Donald Trump announced this on August 12.

After leaving the administration, Leavitt will continue to work with the US president. According to Trump, she will become one of his chief outside advisers and remain a prominent representative of his political team.

Leavitt cited a desire to spend more time with her family and two young children as the reason for her decision. In May 2026, she gave birth to her second child, a daughter, after which she was on maternity leave and returned to work at the White House in July.

Leavitt noted that the duties of press secretary require almost constant involvement, and combining such a schedule with raising children had become difficult for her. However, she does not plan to leave politics entirely.

Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary

Karoline Leavitt made history as the youngest person to hold the post of White House press secretary. Donald Trump announced her appointment after winning the 2024 presidential election. At the start of her work in Trump's second administration, she was 27 years old.

Previously, Leavitt had already worked at the White House during Trump's first presidential term, including in the administration's press office. Later, she was communications director for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

In 2022, Leavitt ran for the House of Representatives from New Hampshire. She won the Republican primary but lost in the general election to the Democratic candidate.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Leavitt returned to Trump's team and became one of the key media representatives of his campaign. After Trump returned to the White House, she took up the post of the administration's chief representative before journalists.

Successor not named yet

Who will replace Leavitt as White House press secretary has not been officially announced. Thus, by the end of August, the administration will have to choose a new person to conduct briefings and represent the president's position before the media.

Trump praised Leavitt's work and stressed that her departure from the official post does not mean an end to cooperation. She will continue to advise the president from outside the administration.

Based on: The Washington Post, BBC