White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August 2026, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, August 12th. Leavitt, one of Trump's most prominent and trusted advisers, will transition to serve as an outside communications adviser and party operative shaping the future of Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement.

Leavitt, 28, stated in a social media post that she plans to spend more time with her young children. She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May 2026 and recently returned from maternity leave.

Trump praised Leavitt in a social media post, calling her "a real leader in the White House" who has done a "phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024." He described her as "one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office."

Leavitt described her role at the White House as "the honour and adventure of a lifetime." She joined Trump's 2024 campaign and served as transition spokeswoman before being selected as press secretary.

Harrison Fields, Trump's former principal deputy press secretary, said, "Few could or will ever compare to Karoline."

During her year and a half in the role, Leavitt and White House communications director Steven Cheung transformed the administration's media posture, actions that received both praise from some Trump allies and criticism from free press advocates.

Additionally, reports emerged that the Secret Service clandestinely moved President Trump between jets in the back of a catering truck amid a potential Iranian assassination threat.

Sources