White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, is set to conclude her tenure at the end of August, transitioning from her high-profile podium role to become an external communications adviser and political operative for President Donald Trump.
Leavitt, who was the youngest individual to hold the White House Press Secretary position, stated that her decision to step down was driven by a desire to spend more time with her two young children. She recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to her second child, a daughter, in May.
Trump Praises Leavitt's Tenure
President Trump lauded Leavitt's performance, calling her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.” He credited her as a formidable advocate for his administration, while Leavitt herself described her time at the White House as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.”
Leavitt’s journey to the White House podium began during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, where she served as its transition spokeswoman. Following Trump's election victory, she was appointed Press Secretary, making history as the youngest appointee to the role.
A Combative Approach to Media
Her roughly 18-month tenure as Press Secretary was marked by a combative style, frequently involving clashes with reporters during briefings. She quickly became one of the administration's most recognizable public figures.
During her time, the administration implemented significant changes to how journalists accessed the president. This included selecting specific reporters for coverage, deviating from the traditional press-pool system managed by the White House Correspondents Association. The administration also introduced a dedicated “new media” position in the briefing room for digital outlets, a move viewed by supporters as adapting to modern news consumption, but questioned by press-freedom advocates regarding equitable access.
New Advisory Role Amidst Recent Reports
Leavitt's new advisory role will see her help shape the future direction of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement as the administration approaches the November midterm elections.
Her departure also comes days after reports detailing an elaborate security operation used to conceal President Trump’s movements from a NATO summit in Türkiye. According to a Washington Post report, Trump was secretly transferred from his expected aircraft to a smaller military plane inside a catering truck, following intelligence about a potential Iranian assassination threat. Journalists and staff on the original aircraft were reportedly unaware of the change, marking an unusual deviation from established presidential travel protocols.