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Karoline Leavitt | Source: Getty Images
Karoline Leavitt Steps Down as White House Press Secretary and Trump Has a New Role for Her – Details
Her announcement may have answered why she is walking away from the briefing room, but it has also opened the door to a much bigger Washington guessing game.
Karoline Leavitt is stepping away from one of the most visible jobs in Washington, but her exit from the White House does not mean she is done working with Donald Trump.
The reason behind her departure is deeply personal, while Trump has already revealed that Leavitt will remain firmly in his political orbit. Then there is the other big question: who could possibly take her place behind the White House podium?
Leavitt announced on August 12, 2026, that she had made the “bittersweet” decision to leave her position as White House press secretary after serving in the role for roughly a year and a half.
In a lengthy and emotional statement shared on X, Leavitt reflected on her time in the White House and thanked Trump for what she described as extraordinary opportunities.
She recalled working in the West Wing, spending “countless hours” in the Oval Office, traveling around the world and meeting foreign leaders, as well as traveling across the country and speaking with Americans.
Leavitt also said one of the biggest privileges of the job was speaking for Trump from the White House podium.
Karoline Leavitt said she made the “bittersweet” decision to leave the White House. Donald Trump has already asked her to remain in his orbit. | Source: Getty Images
But the most revealing part of her message came later, when Leavitt explained why she decided it was time to walk away.
Being a mother while working in what she called one of the most demanding jobs in the world had been both the “most rewarding” and “challenging” season of her life, Leavitt explained.
She also welcomed a new baby during her time in the administration and eventually returned to work following the birth of her daughter.
However, Leavitt said that experience led her to reconsider whether she could continue giving both her family and the press secretary position everything they required.
“I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House,” she wrote.
Leavitt Is Leaving the White House, but Trump Is Keeping Her Close
And that brings attention to the other major detail of her announcement: Leavitt may be leaving the White House, but she is not leaving Team Trump.
“President Trump has asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside,” Leavitt revealed. She added that she intends to remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party.
Leavitt also used her farewell statement to praise Trump’s record and criticize his political opponents, making clear that she still sees herself as very much part of the broader political fight. “My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” she wrote.
She went on to thank Trump, the First Lady, the entire Trump family, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, members of the president’s Cabinet, her staff, colleagues and friends.
Leavitt also gave an especially personal thank-you to her husband and family for the sacrifices they made while she served in the job.
So while the title of “White House press secretary” is disappearing from Leavitt’s résumé for now, her relationship with the president appears to be continuing in a significant way.
Trump Breaks His Silence on Her Departure
Trump quickly confirmed the news himself, and his statement leaves little doubt about how highly he regards his outgoing press secretary. In a Truth Social message shared by Rapid Response 47, Trump said Leavitt would leave her role at the end of the month so she could “spend more time with her beautiful young children and family.”
He added that it was a decision he “totally” understood and respected. Trump described Leavitt as his “wonderful” press secretary and “one of my most trusted aides.”
He also confirmed Leavitt’s next chapter, saying she would become one of his top outside advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party as the administration looks toward the midterm elections.
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Trump praised her as a “real leader” in the White House and said she had done a “phenomenal job” fighting for what he described as justice, liberty, and freedom.
He also called Leavitt one of the best White House press secretaries in the history of the office. “Thank you, Karoline, for a job well done!” Trump concluded.
The Big Question Now: Who Could Replace Her?
With Karoline Leavitt preparing to leave, attention is naturally turning toward the person who could inherit one of the most scrutinized communications jobs in American politics. And according to The Times’ rundown of possible contenders, there is no shortage of recognizable names who could potentially enter the conversation.
That list of names includes: Anna Kelly, Leavitt’s deputy press secretary; Alina Habba, a figure already very familiar to anyone who has closely followed Trump over the last several years; Harrison Fields, who has already worked directly inside the White House press operation; and Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant and communications adviser.
Additionally, Katie Miller, whose husband Stephen Miller serves as Trump’s deputy chief of staff; Scott Jennings, a frequent CNN commentator; Kingsley Wilson, who has served as press secretary at the Department of War since May of last year (2025); and Laura Loomer, who has long occupied an unusual position in Trump’s political universe. More details on the story will follow shortly.
