White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to depart her position by the end of the month, announced U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday. This departure will leave the president without one of his key advisors as the November midterm elections approach. Leavitt and Trump revealed in statements that she will transition to an external communications advisor and play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
In a social media update, the 28-year-old Leavitt expressed her desire to dedicate more time to her young children after recently returning from maternity leave following the birth of her second child in May. Trump praised Leavitt’s contributions, citing her leadership in advocating for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom since 2018, including her involvement in the Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024. He hailed Leavitt as one of the top White House Press Secretaries in history.
Reflecting on her tenure at the White House, Leavitt described it as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She initially joined Trump’s 2024 campaign and later transitioned to serve as a spokesperson before assuming the role of White House press secretary, making her the youngest person to hold this position. Trump has not yet revealed any plans regarding Leavitt’s successor for this prominent role.
Former principal deputy press secretary for Trump, Harrison Fields, lauded Leavitt’s unique abilities, stating that she excelled in understanding and effectively communicating Trump’s message to the media. During her time in office, Leavitt, alongside White House communications director Steven Cheung, reshaped the administration’s media interactions, a move that drew applause from some of Trump’s supporters but faced criticism from advocates of press freedom.
The Trump administration implemented changes in the media landscape, including hand-picking journalists granted access to the president, departing from the traditional system overseen by the White House Correspondents’ Association. Additionally, a new media seat was established in the briefing room to offer podcasts, newsletters, and emerging digital platforms a more prominent role in covering presidential activities. While some viewed this as a positive adjustment to the evolving media environment, others raised concerns about potential biases in selecting media outlets based on favorable coverage.