WASHINGTON, Aug 12 – U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of the month, ending the tenure of one of the administration’s most prominent and closely aligned public voices.
Leavitt, 28, will not be leaving Trump’s political orbit entirely. According to statements from Trump and Leavitt, she is expected to continue working as an outside communications adviser and political operative, with a role focused on helping shape the future direction and public message of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
Leavitt said her decision was driven largely by a desire to spend more time with her young family. She returned to the White House relatively recently after taking maternity leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter, in May.
In a statement posted on social media, Leavitt described serving as White House press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She said the position had given her an opportunity to work closely with Trump while representing an administration she strongly supports, but indicated that her family now needed more of her attention.
Trump praised Leavitt in his own social media statement, describing her as a major leader within the White House and crediting her with defending the administration’s political agenda. He also called her one of the best press secretaries in the history of the office.
Her departure comes at a politically important moment for the Trump administration. The president and his allies are preparing for the November midterm elections, when control of Congress will again be at stake. Leavitt’s continued involvement as an outside adviser means she is likely to remain an important part of Trump’s political communications operation even after leaving the White House payroll.
Youngest White House Press Secretary
Leavitt’s career in Trump’s political operation developed rapidly. She joined Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and later served as a spokeswoman during the presidential transition. Trump ultimately selected her to become his White House press secretary, making her the youngest person ever appointed to the position.
Her tenure was marked by a highly assertive approach to dealing with the news media and defending the president. She frequently appeared at White House briefings to respond to criticism of the administration, promote Trump’s policies and challenge reporters over coverage she believed was unfair to the president.
Her style was closely associated with Trump’s own confrontational approach toward the media. Supporters viewed her as an effective defender of the president who was willing to directly challenge reporters and present the administration’s arguments without hesitation. Critics, meanwhile, argued that the White House had become more selective about media access and increasingly willing to confront news organizations it considered hostile.
Former principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields, who previously worked alongside Leavitt, praised her performance after news of her departure emerged. Fields said she understood Trump’s communication style and knew how to present his message to his political supporters.
During her roughly year and a half as press secretary, Leavitt worked closely with White House communications director Steven Cheung as the administration changed its approach to presidential media access.
One of the most significant changes involved the White House press pool. For decades, the White House Correspondents’ Association had played an important role in organizing the rotating group of journalists assigned to cover the president and report on activities that could not accommodate the entire press corps.
The Trump administration moved to exercise greater control over which journalists received access to the president. The change drew criticism from press freedom advocates and some traditional media organizations, which argued that allowing the administration greater influence over access could weaken longstanding protections for independent coverage of the presidency.
At the same time, the White House created a designated “new media” seat in the briefing room. The move opened greater access to podcasters, newsletter writers and emerging digital media organizations that had traditionally received less attention in the White House press operation.
Supporters of the change argued that the media landscape had changed substantially and that the White House should reflect the growing influence of independent online outlets. Critics countered that the administration could use the expanded access system to favor organizations that were more supportive of Trump and his policies.
Leavitt’s departure also comes as the White House faces renewed scrutiny over security arrangements surrounding the president.
The Washington Post reported this week that Trump was secretly moved between aircraft during his departure from a NATO summit in Turkey in July after U.S. officials confronted what was described as a potential Iranian threat against the president.
According to the report, the Secret Service moved Trump from the aircraft he was publicly expected to use to another plane, with the president reportedly transported in the back of a catering truck as part of the security operation. Cabinet officials, staff members and journalists aboard the original aircraft were reportedly unaware that Trump had been moved.
The unusual security measure represented a significant departure from the normal arrangements surrounding presidential travel and raised questions about the nature of the threat and the extent to which officials believed Trump could be targeted.
Leavitt will leave her formal White House position as the administration prepares for an increasingly intense political season. Her decision to remain involved outside government, however, means her influence over Trump’s political messaging is unlikely to end with her departure from the press secretary’s office.
For Trump, the transition will mean finding a new person to stand at the White House podium and serve as the administration’s principal public voice at a critical stage of his presidency.
For Leavitt, the move represents a shift rather than a complete exit from politics. Her decision allows her to remain connected to the movement that helped propel her to national prominence while giving her more time to focus on her young children.
The change also closes a notable chapter in the White House press office. At just 28, Leavitt became the youngest person to hold the position, and her combative, openly pro-Trump style became one of the defining features of the administration’s relationship with the press.