Karoline Leavitt, one of US President Donald Trump’s “most trusted” aides, will step down as White House Press Secretary by the end of this month, citing her responsibilities as a mother.
She thanked Trump for giving her the opportunity to work closely with him in the White House, travel with him and meet world leaders.
Leavitt, who welcomed her second child in May, said serving as press secretary for the past year and a half had been “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.
However, she lost the election to her Democratic opponent. Truth behind viral rumor Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, announced Wednesday that she will leave the Trump administration at the end of August to spend more time with her young family. President Donald Trump confirmed her departure and said he understood and respected her decision. Earlier reporting noted: President Donald Trump has not announced a replacement for Karoline Leavitt .
In college, she volunteered at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and began working as an intern at Fox News during the 2016 election. After graduating in 2019, Leavitt joined Trump’s first administration, working as a presidential writer and later as an assistant press secretary in the White House press office. After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Leavitt joined Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as her communications director. In 2022, Leavitt decided to run for Congress herself in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. In January 2024, Trump appointed her as his campaign press secretary, according to Iowa State University . Leavitt met Nicholas Riccio, a New Hampshire-based real estate developer who is 32 years older than her, in 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in July 2024. They got married in March 2025 and welcomed their daughter in May 2026, according to People . Earlier reporting noted: Leavitt, 28, described her decision as “bittersweet. He said she will continue to work with him as one of his top outside advisers and remain an influential voice in the Republican Party as he prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
She was also active in the student newspaper, where she wrote an opinion piece that the “liberal media” was unfair to Trump. She presented herself as a “Generation Z conservative”. In a social media post, she said that after returning to the White House following the birth of her daughter, she realized she could not give her two young children the time and attention they deserve while also meeting the demands of being White House press secretary.
Earlier reporting noted: Karoline Leavitt replacement: Is Nicki Minaj the new White House press secretary?
