Karoline Leavitt Resigns as White House Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt will resign as White House Press Secretary at the end of August to prioritize spending time with her young children and family. Leavitt, who became the youngest person to hold the position at age 27, recently returned from a seven-week maternity leave following the birth of her second child in May. She described balancing the demands of the role with motherhood as the most challenging season of her life.

President Donald Trump announced the departure on Truth Social, praising Leavitt as a real leader and one of the best press secretaries in the history of the office. Reports indicate Trump may have been surprised by the decision, as he is known to be a demanding boss who contacted Leavitt frequently, including during her maternity leave.

Trump has not yet named a successor despite lobbying from allies for candidates such as Elizabeth Pipko, Alina Habba, and Scott Jennings. He is currently considering a plan to use a rotating group of Cabinet officials to conduct press briefings, a system previously used during Leavitt's maternity leave involving Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Some aides suggest the president may forgo a permanent appointment since he frequently serves as his own spokesperson through direct interviews and social media.