Karoline Leavitt will leave her position as White House press secretary at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. The high-profile Trump aide cited the demands of raising two young children but plans to remain connected to the president as an outside adviser ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Karoline Leavitt exit follows family decision

Trump announced Leavitt's departure while describing the 28-year-old as one of his most trusted aides. He said he understood and respected her decision to devote more time to her children and family.

Leavitt later described the decision as “bittersweet,” explaining that after returning to the White House following the birth of her daughter, she struggled to balance motherhood with the constant demands of serving as press secretary.

She had given birth to her daughter, Viviana, in May before returning to the briefing room following a relatively short maternity leave. Leavitt also has a young son, Niko, and has frequently spoken publicly about balancing her responsibilities as a mother with her political career.

Her departure comes less than three months before the 2026 midterm elections, making the timing particularly important for an administration facing an intense political and communications period.

Leavitt family decision ends historic White House tenure

At 28, Leavitt made history as the youngest White House press secretary. She also became the first woman to serve in the demanding position while pregnant.

After giving birth to her daughter Viviana on May 1, Leavitt spent about a month away from the White House before returning to the briefing room. She had previously spoken openly about the difficulty of combining one of Washington's most demanding communications jobs with raising two young children.

Her experience following the birth of her first child was similarly intense. Leavitt returned to Trump's 2024 campaign only days after giving birth, with the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, accelerating her return to work.

Trump adviser role keeps Leavitt inside political circle

Leaving the White House does not mean Leavitt is leaving Trump's political operation. She said Trump asked her to continue as a senior outside adviser and that she intends to remain an advocate for his political movement and the Republican Party.

Leavitt's relationship with Trump stretches back to his first administration, when she served in a junior White House position. She later ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire before becoming a prominent spokesperson during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Her campaign performance helped propel her into Trump's inner circle. As press secretary, she became one of the administration's most recognisable public figures, known for strongly defending Trump's agenda and frequently challenging reporters during White House briefings.

White House press secretary successor remains unclear

Leavitt's departure now leaves the administration with the immediate challenge of choosing its next press secretary. No successor had been publicly announced alongside Trump's statement.

The job carries additional importance heading into the midterms. The next press secretary will have to communicate the administration's positions on domestic economic concerns, foreign policy and an increasingly competitive election environment while handling daily scrutiny from the White House press corps.

The communications operation has already experienced personnel changes during Trump's second term, making stability at the briefing-room podium particularly valuable.

Leavitt's 18-month tenure also makes her one of Trump's longer-serving press secretaries. During his first presidency, Sarah Huckabee Sanders held the position for nearly two years, while Sean Spicer, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany had shorter tenures.

2026 midterms raise stakes for Trump communications

The approaching congressional elections make Leavitt's move more consequential than a routine personnel departure. A White House press secretary plays a central role in shaping the administration's daily message and responding rapidly to controversies that can influence the political agenda.

Leavitt could still remain influential from outside the administration. Her national profile, close relationship with Trump and experience as both a campaign spokesperson and White House press secretary give her a platform to defend the president without the daily responsibilities of the briefing room.

White House communications director Steven Cheung praised Leavitt as a strong colleague and expressed support for her decision, signalling that her departure is being presented as an amicable transition rather than a political rupture.