Karoline Leavitt To Step Down As White House Press Secretary at End of August; Donald Trump Names Her As New Outside Adviser
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down at the end of August to focus on her young children. President Donald Trump praised her tenure and announced she will transition to a top outside adviser role supporting Republican midterms. Leavitt explained that balancing the demanding nature of the White House press office with motherhood prompted her exit.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced. Leavitt stated that she made the "bittersweet decision" to step away from her role to devote more time to her young children. The departure marks a notable shift for the administration's communications team. Leavitt, who assumed office in January 2025 at the age of 27, made history as the youngest person to ever hold the high-profile position.
Reason for Departure and Family Focus
In a statement shared on social media, Leavitt explained that balancing the demanding nature of the White House press office with motherhood prompted her exit. She returned to work following maternity leave after the birth of her second child in May. Donald Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ of Strait of Hormuz, Calls Naval Blockade a ‘Wall of Steel’.
Karoline Leavitt Says She Is Leaving White House Press Secretary Role
Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for granting me so many extraordinary opportunities, such as working in the West Wing and spending countless hours… https://t.co/4jyW61DGGh pic.twitter.com/xny1yccuBn
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) August 12, 2026
"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 on X (formerly Twitter). "That is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life," she added.
One of the Best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office, Says Donald Trump
President Donald Trump’s Response and Future Role
President Trump confirmed the transition in a post on Truth Social, describing Leavitt as "one of my most trusted aides" and stating that he fully understood and respected her decision. Trump praised her tenure, calling her "one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office". Despite stepping down from her daily operational duties, Leavitt will remain closely aligned with the administration. Trump announced that she will transition into a role as one of his top outside advisers, focusing on supporting the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Donald Trump Confirms Secret Flight Switch After NATO Summit Over Security Threat: ‘I Get a Lot of Threats’.
Tenure and Background
As press secretary, Leavitt became one of the most visible public faces of the administration, frequently defending White House policies and sparring with legacy media outlets. Her tenure also saw changes to press briefing operations, including expanded access for independent digital commentators and right-leaning media platforms. Before taking on the press secretary role during Trump's second term, Leavitt served as a spokesperson for his 2024 presidential campaign and transition team, and previously worked in the press office during his first administration. The White House has not yet announced a successor to fill the press secretary position following Leavitt's departure at the end of the month.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2026 07:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
