White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, youngest person to hold role, to leave at month’s end

White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest particular person to carry the position, will depart at month’s finish, U.S. President Donald Trump introduced on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).

Karoline Leavitt, youngest White House press secretary, will make her debut in briefing room

Ms. Leavitt, 28, only recently returned to the White Home after taking a quick depart for the delivery of her second baby in Might.

From 2024: Trump names young Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary

Ms. Leavitt has been one of the vital seen advocates of Mr. Trump’s “Make America Nice Once more” motion. The Republican president described her as one in every of his “most trusted aides” in a social media submit saying her departure.

He mentioned Ms. Leavitt “might be departing her position on the finish of the month so she will spend extra time together with her stunning younger kids and household, a call I completely perceive and respect! Karoline will now be one in every of my high exterior advisors, and an influential voice throughout the Republican Occasion, as we work to defy Historical past, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”

Ms. Leavitt just lately returned to work after taking depart following the delivery of her second baby, a daughter, in Might. She additionally has a two-year-old son.

“The reality is since returning to the White Home after the delivery of my daughter, I’ve felt in my coronary heart that I can’t be the most effective mother my two younger kids deserve whereas devoting the fixed time, power, and a spotlight required of the White Home Press Secretary — and that’s the reason I’ve in the end made the bittersweet choice to depart the White Home and embark on a brand new chapter in my life,” Ms. Leavitt mentioned in a social media submit.

Mr. Trump didn’t define plans for who may substitute her within the high-profile position.

She labored as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., an excellent PAC supporting Mr. Trump, earlier than becoming a member of his 2024 marketing campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, successful a 10-way Republican major earlier than dropping to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

Throughout Mr. Trump’s first time period in workplace, Leavitt labored as a press aide within the White Home press workplace. She then grew to become communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Ms. Leavitt briefed from the White Home press room much less incessantly than a few of her latest predecessors. Mr. Trump, who often engages with reporters throughout White Home occasions and through his travels, primarily deployed Ms. Leavitt to Fox Information and different conservative information shops to trumpet his agenda and take pictures at Democrats and the mainstream media.

Mr. Trump’s first-term press secretaries have been Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who have been recognized for quarrelling with reporters. One other, Stephanie Grisham, by no means held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, usually lectured the information media throughout her appearances within the press briefing room.