President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of the month, ending her run as one of the administration’s most visible and fiercely loyal defenders.
Trump revealed Leavitt’s departure in a lengthy statement, saying she plans to step away from the demanding White House role to spend more time with her young children and family.
“Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!” Trump said.
But Leavitt isn’t completely leaving Trump’s orbit.
The president said she will remain one of his top outside advisers and become an influential Republican voice as the party heads into the crucial midterm elections.
“Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections,” Trump said.
The president heaped praise on Leavitt on her way out, calling her “a real leader in the White House” and crediting her work dating back to 2018, including during his successful 2024 campaign to return to the presidency.
Trump went even further, declaring Leavitt “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
“Thank you, Karoline, for a job well done!” he concluded.
Leavitt became one of the most recognizable faces of Trump’s second administration, regularly sparring with reporters from the White House briefing room while aggressively defending the president and his policies.
Trump did not immediately announce who will replace her as press secretary.
Leavitt said leaving the White House was a “bittersweet decision,” but one she ultimately made after struggling to balance the demands of the job with raising two young children.
She called serving as Trump’s press secretary “the honor and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked the president for trusting her to speak on his behalf from the White House podium.
Leavitt said that after returning to work following the birth of her daughter, she realized she could not “be the best mom my two young children deserve” while giving the press secretary role the constant time, energy and attention it required.
But she made clear she isn’t walking away from Trump or MAGA, saying she will continue as one of Trump’s outside advisers and remain a “vocal advocate” for the president and Republican Party. “My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” Leavitt said.
While the president sent Leavitt well wishes, many of her critics used the opportunity to pounce on Leavitt.
“She has NEVER ONCE TOLD ANY TRUTH ! She just parrots what pedo Lying Trump says/wants her to say! Good riddance she’s been a lying biatxh! Trump is a corrupt conman, self-gaining pirate thief, cheat, and inhumane racist. He made the USA suffer and lined his pockets,” one person wrote. “Finally – the constant Lies that came from her. I wonder who the next Sucker will be,” another said.
