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Karoline Leavitt steps down
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt steps down at end of August. She leaves to spend more time with her two young children.
Background
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history, announced her departure at the end of August. She recently returned from maternity leave after the birth of her second child in May. President Trump announced the news on social media, praising her as one of the best in the role. Leavitt will remain an outside advisor and influential voice in the Republican Party.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Leavitt gives birth to her second child, daughter Viviana, becoming the first White House press secretary to have a child while serving.
- Aug 12, 2026President Trump announces on Truth Social that Leavitt will step down at the end of August to spend more time with her family.
- Aug 12, 2026Leavitt confirms her departure in a statement on X, citing the challenge of balancing motherhood with the demands of the role.
- Aug 13, 2026Speculation begins over potential replacements, including Anna Kelly and Katie Miller.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- President Trump praised Leavitt as 'one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office' and said she will remain a top outside advisor.
- Public
- Leavitt said she felt she could not be the best mom to her two young children while devoting the constant time required as press secretary.
Still unverified
The specific reasons for the timing of her departure beyond family considerations are not independently confirmed.