WASHINGTON D.C August 12, 3036 – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday that she is resigning from her position at the end of the month, citing the intense demands of the role and her desire to prioritize time with her two young children.
President Donald Trump first revealed the news in a Truth Social post, describing Leavitt as “one of my most trusted aides” and praising her tenure. “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary… will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect,” Trump wrote. He confirmed she will continue as “one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party” ahead of the midterm elections.
Leavitt, 28, the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, expanded on the decision in a lengthy post on X. She called the past 18 months “the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” thanking Trump for opportunities including work in the West Wing and Oval Office, international travel, and speaking from the podium on behalf of the administration.
“Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least,” she wrote. “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.”
Leavitt gave birth to her second child, daughter Viviana, in May 2026 and returned from maternity leave last month. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, also have a two-year-old son.
In her statement, Leavitt emphasized she will remain a vocal advocate for the MAGA movement and the Republican Party. She thanked Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, her White House colleagues, and especially her family for their support.
Leavitt joined the Trump administration after serving as a press aide in the first term, running unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, and working on the 2024 campaign. No successor has been named. Her departure comes less than three months before the midterm elections.
Reactions on X poured in quickly, with many praising her performance in the high-pressure role and supporting her family-focused choice.
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