Karoline Leavitt will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August. Donald Trump announced the news, calling her one of his most trusted aides and saying he respects her decision to spend more time with her two young children.
Leavitt, 28, was the youngest press secretary in United States history. After leaving the White House she will remain within the president's political orbit, as an outside adviser and influential voice in the Republican Party.
The departure comes ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Trump has not yet named her replacement: she will be his sixth principal spokesperson across his two terms.
Having taken office in January 2025, Leavitt was one of the most recognizable faces of Trump's second administration. She defended the president's line in combative terms, frequently attacked the mainstream press, and expanded White House access to podcasters, influencers, and conservative media.
Her exit closes an unusually stable chapter for Trump's communications operation: Leavitt was the second longest-serving press secretary across both administrations, behind only Sarah Huckabee Sanders. During her recent maternity leave, press briefings had been handled by JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and other administration officials.
