Karoline Leavitt to Step Down as Trump’s Press Secretary at Month-End
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of August, saying she wants to devote more time to her young children and family.
Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said he respected her decision. He added that she would continue to serve as a senior outside adviser and remain an influential voice within the Republican Party.
Leavitt, 28, became White House press secretary in 2025 and made history as the youngest person to hold the position. The Trump administration has not yet announced who will succeed her.
Following Trump’s announcement, Leavitt said serving as White House press secretary had been the greatest honor and adventure of her life. She explained that returning to the White House last month after maternity leave made her realize how difficult it would be to balance the demanding responsibilities of the job with raising her two young children.
Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, welcomed their second daughter in May. The couple also have a two-year-old son.
Her departure marks the end of a high-profile tenure that frequently placed her at the center of clashes between the Trump administration and the media. Leavitt repeatedly accused some journalists of political bias and criticized what she viewed as favorable treatment of left-leaning viewpoints.
During her tenure, the White House also changed the longstanding arrangement for managing the press pool, removing control from the White House Correspondents’ Association in a move that drew attention from media organizations.
Leavitt has been closely associated with Trump since his first administration, when she worked as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter. Her strong defense of Trump’s policies earned her considerable support among the president’s political base.
She is currently the second-longest-serving press secretary across Trump’s two administrations, behind former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
With Leavitt preparing to leave at the end of the month, attention is now turning to Trump’s choice for the next White House press secretary and how the administration’s relationship with the media may evolve under new leadership.
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