WASHINGTON — In a major communications shakeup for the Trump administration, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down from her role at the end of the month. The 28-year-old, who made history as the youngest person to ever hold the position, announced that she is leaving the White House podium to focus on raising her family.
Leavitt described the departure as a "bittersweet decision" in a social media statement on Wednesday, just moments after President Donald Trump broke the news of her resignation. The announcement comes just months after Leavitt returned from maternity leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. She also has a two-year-old son.
"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," Leavitt wrote to her followers. "That is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life."
President Trump was quick to offer his public support, writing on social media that he "totally understands and respects" her choice to prioritize motherhood. While Trump has not yet named a successor to take over the high-pressure press room, he confirmed that Leavitt will remain firmly within his political orbit.
"Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections," the President wrote.
Leavitt’s ascent in Republican politics has been rapid. Before her history-making stint as Press Secretary, she served as the top spokesperson for MAGA Inc., the super PAC backing Trump's 2024 presidential run. In 2022, she mounted a fiercely competitive congressional bid in New Hampshire, emerging victorious in a crowded 10-way Republican primary before ultimately falling short to Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas. She also previously served as the communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.
During her tenure at the White House, Leavitt carved out a unique role. Rather than hosting daily briefings in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room—a venue historically known for combative exchanges during Trump’s first term—she was strategically deployed to Fox News and other conservative media outlets to promote the administration's agenda.
As the search for her replacement begins, the political world will be watching closely to see who President Trump taps next to handle the administration’s messaging as the crucial Midterm Elections approach.
