White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is resigning, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, ending her roughly 19-month tenure in the briefing room.
Leavitt, 28, will leave her post by the end of August, Trump said in a Truth Social post. She plans to spend more time with her two young children, according to the president, who said he “totally understand[s] and respect[s]” her decision.
“She will become one of my top outside advisors” and will work with the Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections, Trump wrote.
The announcement comes less than a month after Leavitt returned to the White House from maternity leave. She gave birth to her daughter, Viviana, on May 1 and came back for a press briefing on July 16. Leavitt has two children with her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio.
In a post on X Wednesday, Leavitt described the challenge of balancing motherhood with one of the most demanding jobs in government.
“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, to say the least,” she wrote.
Leavitt said that since returning to the White House, she felt she could not be “the best mom my two young children deserve” while devoting the time and energy the press secretary role requires.
“That is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” she wrote.
A record-setting tenure
Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history when she took the podium in January 2025, after Trump returned to office. She had previously served as a spokesperson for his 2024 campaign.
Her tenure was marked by a combative style and a willingness to challenge the media, a hallmark of Trump’s communications operation.
Trump cycled through four press secretaries during his first term, from January 2017 to January 2021.
Leavitt’s exit adds another vacancy to a West Wing that has seen significant turnover in recent months, as the administration prepares for the midterm elections. Trump has not yet named a successor.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/12/trump-white-house-karoline-leavitt-resigning-.html
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