At a Glance

• President Donald Trump announced Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of August.
• Leavitt departs the White House podium to focus on her family following the birth of her second child.
• She will transition into a senior role as an outside adviser to the administration and the Republican Party.
• No immediate successor or interim replacement has been announced by the White House.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart her post at the end of August to spend more time with her young family, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post. Leavitt, who became the youngest White House press secretary in history upon taking the podium in January 2025, will transition into a key role as a top outside political adviser for the administration ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Family Decision Respected: "Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!" President Trump wrote.
• Transition to Outside Advisor: "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," Trump stated.
• Praise for White House Service: "Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024," Trump added, calling her "one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office".
• Leavitt's Personal Reflection: "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," Leavitt shared in a statement following the announcement.

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Public Announcement and Transition Plans

President Donald Trump made the official announcement via Truth Social on August 12, 2026, outlining Leavitt's planned departure from the West Wing. While Leavitt will step away from daily White House press briefings, she will remain affiliated with the administration as a senior external advisor. In her new capacity, she is slated to assist the administration and party leadership with strategic messaging during the upcoming midterm campaign cycle.

Motherhood and Demands of the Podium

Leavitt, 28, recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May 2026. In her own social media statement on X, she reflected on the immense demands of balancing the press secretary role with raising a toddler and a newborn. Leavitt described her time at the podium as "the honor and adventure of a lifetime" while confirming that her decision to step down stemmed from a desire to prioritize her children.

Legacy at the Briefing Room Podium

Leavitt first worked as an assistant press secretary during Trump's first administration before serving as national spokesperson for his 2024 presidential campaign. Appointed at age 27, she made history as the youngest person ever to hold the title of White House Press Secretary. The administration has not yet named a replacement or designated an interim spokesperson to succeed Leavitt when her departure takes effect at the end of the month.

FYI

Leavitt's departure represents one of the first major cabinet-level communications departures of Trump's second term. Having served as a central figure in shaping White House messaging since January 2025, her transition to outside advisory work allows the campaign apparatus to leverage her visibility for midterm strategy without requiring the grueling schedule of daily White House briefings. The move leaves the White House press office preparing for a high-profile personnel transition as the administration shifts focus toward the fall legislative and electoral push.

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Trump Names Karoline Leavitt as Youngest Ever White House Press Secretary