White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to depart from her position at the end of the month, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday. This move leaves the president without one of his key advisors in the lead-up to the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Leavitt will transition into the role of an external communications advisor and a key figure in shaping the future direction of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, according to statements made by both Leavitt and Trump. In a recent social media post, Leavitt, aged 28, expressed her intention to dedicate more time to her young children. She welcomed her second child, a daughter, in May and has just returned from maternity leave.
Trump praised Leavitt’s contributions, highlighting her leadership in the White House since 2018, particularly during the 2024 Historic Re-Election Campaign. Describing her as one of the best White House Press Secretaries in history, Trump commended Leavitt for her dedication to upholding values of Justice, Liberty, and Freedom.
Acknowledging her White House tenure as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” Leavitt had been an integral part of Trump’s 2024 campaign and served as a transition spokesperson before assuming the role of White House press secretary. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the youngest person appointed to this position.
There has been no official announcement regarding Leavitt’s successor in this prominent role. Former principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields lauded Leavitt’s exceptional ability to effectively communicate and connect with President Trump, emphasizing her strategic and successful approach in engaging with the media.
During her time in office, Leavitt, along with White House communications director Steven Cheung, implemented significant changes in the administration’s media relations strategy. This included a shift towards a more controlled approach in granting access to journalists, departing from the traditional system overseen by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
The administration’s restructured press protocols involved selectively granting access to journalists, deviating from the established rotation system managed by the industry group. Additionally, a dedicated “new media” seat was introduced in the briefing room to provide increased visibility to podcasts, newsletters, and emerging digital platforms in covering presidential activities.
These alterations to the media access process received mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a positive adaptation to the evolving media landscape, while others criticized it as a potential tool for rewarding favorable coverage by certain outlets.
