Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, will step down from the role at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, ending a high-profile tenure as one of the administration’s most visible spokespeople.
Leavitt, 28, recently returned to the podium after a brief leave following the birth of her second child, a girl, in May. She will depart to spend more time with her young children and family, a move Trump said he understood and respected.
In a social media post announcing the departure, Trump described Leavitt as one of his “most trusted aides” and said she would transition into an advisory position. She “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,” he wrote.
Leavitt first worked in the White House as a press aide during Trump’s initial term, later becoming one of the most prominent advocates of his “Make America Great Again” movement. Her elevation to press secretary made her the youngest person to hold the position.
During her time behind the briefing room lectern, Leavitt frequently served as the administration’s principal voice on contentious matters, including high-profile disputes with news organizations. The press office under her leadership was central to several confrontations over media coverage, among them a dispute in which the White House warned CBS of potential legal action over interview editing.
Her exit adds to a series of personnel changes across the administration in recent months. The move comes as the White House shifts focus toward the upcoming midterm election cycle, in which Trump has framed Republican prospects as a priority.
Trump did not immediately name a successor to fill the press secretary role. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of the month, with Leavitt continuing in an outside advisory capacity to the president and the party thereafter.