White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the role, will leave her position at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Trump stated on social media that Leavitt is departing to spend more time with her young children and family, a decision he said he “totally understand[s] and respect[s].”

Leavitt, 28, who has been a fiercely loyal defender of Trump and known for her fluent and aggressive press briefings, recently returned to work after maternity leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Leavitt explained, “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.”

Trump also announced that Leavitt will continue to serve as one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party as they aim to win the upcoming Midterm Elections. Leavitt has previously worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, and ran for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022.

Leavitt has expressed her commitment to holding the media accountable and ensuring the American public hears the truth about President Trump’s successes. She wrote on X about the political climate, stating, “Our country is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party that seeks to destroy everything great about America, and I believe it is incumbent upon all of us who care about this country to fight back against that threat. My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over.”

Sources