Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary at the end of this month. President Trump announced the move in a social media update on Wednesday, citing her desire to spend more time with her family. Leavitt, at 28 the youngest individual to hold this position, served as a consistent public presence for the administration throughout the term.
In her departure announcement, Leavitt stated that the demands of the role conflicted with her priorities as a mother to two young children. She noted that balancing the constant energy requirements of the press office with her family life became unsustainable after she returned to the office following the birth of her daughter. Despite this change in role, she plans to remain active in political circles.
President Trump indicated that Leavitt will transition into a new capacity as one of his primary outside advisers. The president expects her to remain an influential voice for the Republican Party as the country moves toward the upcoming midterm elections.
Leavitt’s tenure was marked by her defense of the administration during several high-profile events, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files, and the Iran war. She also pushed for significant changes in how the White House interacts with the media, advocating for the inclusion of influencers and alternative voices within the press corps.
As the White House press secretary position is a direct appointment by the president and does not require Senate confirmation, a replacement process will likely commence soon. Trump worked with four different press secretaries during his first term in office, maintaining his practice of frequent staffing shifts to align with his administrative goals.