White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Departs Trump Administration to Focus on Family

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, announced Wednesday she will resign from the position by the end of the month to devote more attention to her family. The 28-year-old made the announcement through a social media post shortly after President Donald Trump revealed her departure, describing the decision as bittersweet.

Leavitt, who returned to her White House duties following the May birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, said balancing motherhood with the demanding role proved incompatible. She is also mother to a 2-year-old son and expressed that she could not provide her children with the attention they deserve while managing the constant demands of the press secretary position.

Trump responded positively to Leavitt’s departure announcement, saying he “totally understand[s] and respect[s]” her choice while signaling she would remain influential within his administration. The president indicated Leavitt would become a top outside adviser and prominent voice within the Republican Party as the administration prepares for midterm elections.

Before joining the Trump administration’s second term, Leavitt served as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, and worked on his 2024 campaign. She previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022 and worked in Trump’s first-term White House press office before becoming communications director for Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York.

Leavitt conducted fewer formal press briefings than some predecessors, as Trump preferred direct engagement with reporters at public events. The administration utilized her primarily through appearances on Fox News and conservative outlets to promote administration policies and criticize Democratic opponents and mainstream media outlets.