White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to leave her role later this month, with Donald Trump saying she will remain as one of his senior advisers.
Leavitt, 28, became the youngest White House press secretary in US history when she took on the role in January 2025.
She became known for her fiercely loyal defence of Trump and often combative exchanges with journalists during White House press briefings.
Announcing her departure, Trump described Leavitt as one of his “most trusted aides”.
“Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family,” he said.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushes a stroller at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo credit: Joey Sussman, Shutterstock
“Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party.”
Leavitt returned to the White House earlier this summer after giving birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May.
She said that after returning to work, she realised she could not give both her job and her two young children the attention they deserved.
“I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve,” she said.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a White House Press Briefing. Photo credit, Joey Sussman, Shutterstock
Leavitt also thanked Trump for giving her the opportunity to represent his administration.
“I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium,” she said.
“I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump's successes.”
According to the Irish Examiner, Leavitt's time as press secretary was marked by major changes to the relationship between the White House and the media.
She helped introduce a “new media” seat in the briefing room, which was frequently occupied by conservative commentators supportive of the Trump administration.
Her team also attempted to take greater control over which outlets could serve in the White House press pool, although the White House Correspondents' Association rejected the proposal.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a White House Press Briefing. Photo credit, Joey Sussman, Shutterstock
Leavitt was also involved in the decision to block the Associated Press from the press pool after the organisation refused to adopt Trump's preferred term “Gulf of America”.
The Irish Examiner highlighted her loyalty to Trump as another defining feature of her time in the role.
That included defending the president as questions continued to be raised about his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
During a briefing, Leavitt said: “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
She also came under fire for her treatment of journalists.
In January, Belfast-born White House columnist Niall Stanage questioned her over the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
Leavitt accused Stanage of being a “leftwing hack” and said he was “not a reporter, posing in this room as a journalist”.
@nypostDuring a heated White House press briefing, Karoline Leavitt clashed with two "left-wing hack" journalists.♬ original sound - New York Post | News
Despite the controversy surrounding her tenure, Leavitt's time in the White House was historic.
She became the youngest person ever to serve as press secretary and, after announcing her pregnancy, became the first expectant White House press secretary.
Leavitt first worked for Trump during his initial presidency before becoming his spokesperson during his 2024 election campaign.
She previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022 and has indicated that she intends to continue pursuing a political career.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a White House Press Briefing. Photo credit, Photo Ibo, Shutterstock
“My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” she said.
Leavitt will leave the press secretary position at the end of August but is expected to remain a prominent voice within Trump's political operation.
