Karoline Leavitt stepped down as White House press secretary on Thursday, concluding a 20-month tenure as the youngest person ever to hold the role, as she cited a desire to focus on her family and two young children following the birth of her second child in May.
President Trump announced Leavitt’s departure on August 12, and she spent her final day in the briefing room on August 27. In a statement to NewsNation, Leavitt described the decision as “bittersweet” and reflected on the constant balancing act of being a working mother at the White House.
“Every day as a working mother is a challenge,” Leavitt said. “You have to make sacrifices. You have to prioritize your time, and you have to say no to a lot of opportunities that come your way because you want to be there for bedtime with your kids every night.” She added that welcoming her daughter in May “really just showed me that, you know, two children at home who deserve and need their mother’s constant attention and presence.”
Leavitt, now 29, became the youngest White House press secretary in history when she took the role on January 20, 2025. Her 585-day tenure ranks as the second-longest for a Trump press secretary, exceeded only by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to reporting from NBC News. Trump praised her performance in a statement, calling her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
During her tenure, Leavitt and communications director Steven Cheung reshaped the administration’s relationship with the media. The White House began handpicking journalists for access to the president, departing from the traditional system managed by the White House Correspondents Association. The administration also created a “new media” seat in the briefing room to give podcasts and digital outlets more prominent coverage roles, a move some hailed as recognizing the changing media landscape while others criticized it as a tool to reward favorable coverage, according to Reuters.
Leavitt will not leave the administration entirely. She will transition to Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., where she will serve as an outside communications adviser and party operative. The PAC reportedly holds over $350 million in campaign funds ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Her departure has already triggered a search for her replacement. CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as an early frontrunner, according to reporting from August 20. Trump indicated his openness to Jennings, telling reporters “Scott Jennings is good” when asked about the possibility. Other candidates reportedly being considered include Trump’s former personal lawyer Alina Habba and communications aide Anna Kelly, according to multiple news outlets. Trump stated that he has received an unprecedented volume of applications for the position.
The turnover reflects broader staffing changes in Trump’s second administration. According to the Brookings Institution, Trump’s “A Team” turnover reached 54 percent as of August 20, 2026, surpassing even the high turnover rates of his first term. The second Trump administration has seen departures across key positions, including legislative director James Braid, who is set to leave in September.
Sources
- NewsNation — Leavitt’s final-day statements on motherhood, balancing act as working mother, and her 20-month tenure
- Reuters — Trump’s announcement of Leavitt’s departure, her age, tenure length, changes to media access policy, and her role at MAGA Inc.
- CNN — Scott Jennings emerging as early favorite for press secretary role, meeting with chief of staff Susie Wiles
- NBC News — Confirmation that Leavitt’s tenure was the second-longest for a Trump press secretary
- Brookings Institution — Trump administration “A Team” turnover rate of 54 percent as of August 20, 2026
