Karoline Leavitt to leave White House at month-end
Apnews · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to leave the Trump administration at the end of August after President Donald Trump announced her departure on Wednesday. Trump said she is stepping down to spend more time with her young children and family, while Leavitt described the move as a bittersweet decision after returning to the podium following the birth of her second child.
Key Points
- Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary and will leave her post at the end of August.
- In a social media post, Leavitt said she could not be the best mother to her two young children while meeting the role’s constant demands
- She recently returned to the White House briefing room after giving birth in May to her second child, a daughter named Viviana; she also has a 2-year-old son
- Trump said he respects her decision and plans to keep Leavitt as a top outside adviser and an influential Republican voice ahead of the midterm elections.
- Trump did not say who would replace Leavitt; AP said she appeared less often in the briefing room than some recent predecessors
Why It Matters
Leavitt’s exit opens a high-profile vacancy in the Trump White House communications operation, with no successor yet identified. For Hong Kong readers following Washington politics, her continued role as an outside adviser suggests she may still shape Republican messaging even after leaving the administration.