Updated Aug. 12, 2026, 8:13 p.m. ET
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in White House history, is leaving the Trump administration at the end of August. She said the demands of the high-profile role and raising her two young children influenced her decision.
President Donald Trump announced Leavitt’s departure on social media on Aug. 12, calling her “one of my most trusted aides.” Leavitt, 28, who recently returned from maternity leave after the birth of her second child, said the decision was difficult but necessary.
“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,” Leavitt wrote on X. “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.”
Though she is leaving the White House, Leavitt said she will continue serving as a top adviser to Trump after one of the longer stints by a press secretary during Trump’s time in office.
Who has served as Trump’s White House press secretary?
Leavitt’s departure will make her the fifth White House press secretary to serve under Trump. Here’s a look at the others who have held the role.