Karoline Leavitt to step down as White House press secretary, Trump says

Karoline Leavitt will leave as White House press secretary at the end of August after nearly 18 months in the role. Trump said she will remain one of his top outside advisers as Republicans prepare for the midterms.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, marking the end of a tenure that made her the youngest person ever to serve in the role.Leavitt said her decision was driven by a desire to spend more time with her family after nearly 18 months at the forefront of the administration's communications operation.“Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” Leavitt wrote in a post on X.“Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life,” Leavitt said, describing the difficulty of balancing family responsibilities with the demands of serving as White House press secretary. “Since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt 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. That is why I have made the bittersweet decision to leave the White House and begin a new chapter in my life.”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, 2026Trump praised Leavitt's work and signalled that she would remain a key figure in Republican politics despite stepping away from the White House. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Leavitt would become one of his top outside advisers and continue to play an influential role as Republicans prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.Leavitt joined Trump's 2024 presidential campaign before serving as spokesperson for the transition team following his election victory. Trump later tapped her to serve as White House press secretary, making history as the youngest person appointed to the position.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 02:12 IST