One of President Donald Trump’s most visible aides is leaving the White House at the end of this month to focus on her young children, the president announced August 12, 2026, though she will remain active in Republican politics as an outside adviser heading into the midterms.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is resigning her post effective late August after holding the job since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. At 28, she made history as the youngest White House press secretary ever appointed, but the birth of her second child in May forced her to reconsider whether she could continue in one of Washington’s most demanding positions.
Balancing the Podium and a Newborn
Leavitt gave birth to her daughter on May 1, 2026, then returned to work in the briefing room on July 16, 2026. The attempt to manage both the grueling schedule of the press secretary job and caring for a newborn—along with her two-year-old son—proved unsustainable.
In a social media post on X, Leavitt explained that the dual responsibilities of motherhood and serving as Trump’s chief spokesperson had been deeply rewarding but ultimately impossible to sustain simultaneously.
She characterized stepping down as “bittersweet.” Trump has asked her to remain involved as a senior outside adviser, and she plans to continue championing the MAGA movement and the Republican Party. “My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” she added.
From Campaign Trail to Briefing Room
Leavitt’s path to the podium wound through multiple roles in Trump’s orbit. She initially worked in the White House press office during his first presidency, then moved on to serve as communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. She ran for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, winning a crowded Republican primary but losing the general election to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Following that defeat, she became a spokesperson for the pro-Trump fundraising organization MAGA Inc., then joined Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary.
Her tenure as press secretary was marked by frequent clashes with journalists. In February 2025, her office stripped the White House Correspondents’ Association of its traditional role in organizing the press pool and temporarily excluded the Associated Press from briefings after the wire service declined to use the term “Gulf of America” in its reporting. Allies praised her for aggressively defending administration policy and maintaining strict message discipline under intense questioning.
Trump Vows to Keep Her Involved
The president expressed support for Leavitt’s choice and emphasized that she would continue to play a prominent role in his political operation. “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying he expects her to help deliver victories in the coming midterm elections.
Conservative commentator and Fox host Riley Gaines praised Leavitt’s performance in the role. “Karoline Leavitt is so good at her job,” Gaines wrote.
Second-Longest Tenure Across Two Terms
Leavitt’s departure will end a run that makes her the second longest-serving press secretary of any Trump administration, trailing only Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who held the position during Trump’s first term. Trump employed four press secretaries between January 2017 and January 2021, making Leavitt the fifth across both administrations.
No replacement has been announced. As of the August 12, 2026, announcement, it was not known who would take over briefing room duties when Leavitt steps down at the end of the month. She said she remains thankful for the experience and has no intention of stepping away from the public arena. “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” she wrote.
