Karoline Leavitt to Step Down as White House Press Secretary

On 13 August 2026, Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt will step down as White House press secretary at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. She will become one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party ahead of the Midterm Elections. Leavitt called her tenure "the honor and adventure of a lifetime" and expressed pride in serving alongside accomplished people. At 28, she became the youngest person in US history to hold the role, known for her combative style and unwavering loyalty to Trump. She began writing pro-Trump op-eds at 19, interned at Fox News and the White House, joined Trump's press team in 2019, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In January 2024, she became his campaign press secretary. Leavitt gained international attention for defending Trump's rhetoric, including during the Iran conflict, and was praised by Trump as the best press secretary ever. She is expecting her second child in May, and speculation had arisen about her maternity leave. Her departure marks a significant shift in the administration's communications strategy.