Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt to exit White House
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to leave her role at the end of the month after a year and a half as one of Donald Trump’s most visible public defenders. Trump said she will remain in his orbit as an outside adviser, while Leavitt said she decided to step down so she could devote more time to her two young children.
Key Points
- Trump announced on Wednesday that Leavitt, 28, will leave the White House at month’s end, making way for an as-yet unnamed successor.
- Leavitt recently returned from a brief leave after giving birth to her second child, a daughter, in May; she also has a two-year-old son.
- Trump called her one of his most trusted aides and said she would become a top outside adviser and influential Republican voice ahead of the midterm elections.
- Before becoming press secretary, Leavitt worked for MAGA Inc., joined Trump’s 2024 campaign, and served as transition spokeswoman before her appointment.
- Her earlier political roles included work in Trump’s first White House press office, communications director for Elise Stefanik, and a 2022 New Hampshire congressional run she lost to Chris Pappas
Why It Matters
Leavitt’s departure removes a high-profile communicator from the White House at a politically sensitive moment, with Trump heading toward the November midterm elections without naming a replacement yet. For Hong Kong readers tracking Washington, the change could affect how the administration presents policy and manages media access in the months ahead