October 14, 2026October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her podium post at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, signaling a significant restructuring of the administration’s communications apparatus less than three months before the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.
Trump confirmed the planned departure in an official statement, describing the 28-year-old spokeswoman as an indispensable confidante and explaining that she elected to leave the West Wing to dedicate more time to her growing family and young children. The president offered unreserved praise for her service, emphasizing that while she is relinquishing her formal government portfolio, she will remain a central strategic adviser within his broader political operation.
Leavitt made history in January 2025 when she assumed the podium at age 27, becoming the youngest individual ever appointed White House press secretary. A veteran of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and a former assistant press secretary during his first term, she quickly emerged as one of the administration’s most disciplined and visible public surrogates.