White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to Step Down, Citing Family Priorities
Washington, D.C. — US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will be leaving her post. The announcement comes just over a month after Leavitt returned from maternity leave following the birth of her second child.
Leavitt confirmed the decision in a statement posted on X, describing her tenure as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She said the decision to depart was bittersweet, explaining that the demands of the role made it difficult to balance with her responsibilities as a mother of two young children.
“Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least,” Leavitt wrote. “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, 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 and embark on a new chapter in my life.”
Leavitt, who is 27, welcomed her daughter with her husband Nicholas Riccio in May. The couple also has a two-year-old son. She had returned to work from maternity leave last month.
Her departure marks the end of a relatively short but notable tenure in the Trump administration. Leavitt was appointed press secretary in November 2024, becoming one of the youngest people to hold the role. She was a visible presence at the White House briefing room, frequently fielding questions from reporters and defending the administration’s policies.
Leavitt’s relationship with Trump dates back to his first term, when she served as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter. She later worked as communications director for New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. In 2022, she ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire, winning the Republican primary but losing to Democrat Chris Pappas in the general election.
After her congressional bid, Leavitt became a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump fundraising group, before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary. She was named White House press secretary after Trump’s victory.
Her decision to step down has been framed by observers as a personal choice, with no indication of any internal disagreement or controversy. The White House has not yet named a successor.
Leavitt’s departure adds to a series of staff changes in the Trump administration, though the White House has portrayed it as an amicable transition. In her statement, Leavitt expressed gratitude to the president and the American people, saying she looks forward to supporting the administration from outside the White House.
“I will always be grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me,” she wrote. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for his agenda and the causes I believe in, just from a different vantage point.”
