Karoline Leavitt Is Leaving the White House

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping back from her role at the end of the month, a surprise announcement that comes just weeks after she returned to the podium following a brief maternity leave.

President Donald Trump made the announcement Wednesday, saying she had made the decision as part of a decision to prioritize spending time with her “beautiful young children and family.”

“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 wrote on Truth Social.

The president added that he “totally” understood and respected her decision.

After giving birth to her second child in May, Leavitt returned to her role in mid-July. The youngest White House press secretary in history, she has served since the start of Trump’s second term.

“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” Leavitt wrote on X.

The White House did not provide a comment on who will replace Leavitt or if there are plans to immediately fill the role.

Before becoming Trump’s top press aide, Leavitt ran for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, but lost to Rep. Chris Pappas, the Democratic incumbent.

She has served in various press roles throughout her career, including as a communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and as a spokeswoman for MAGA Inc., a Trump-aligned super PAC.

This is a developing story and will be updated with additional information.