Full Breakdown
Karoline Leavitt to Leave White House Press Secretary Post
8/13/2026, 1:59:25 AM
Core Event
On August 12, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart the role at the end of August. Leavitt, 28, said she is leaving to devote more time to her two young children—son Nico, age 2, and daughter Viviana, born May 1, 2026.
Background & Context
Leavitt began as an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first term (2017-2021), later served as national press secretary for the 2024 campaign, and was appointed press secretary when Trump returned to office in January 2025, becoming the youngest person ever in the position. After giving birth to her second child in May 2026, she took maternity leave and returned to the briefing room on July 16, 2026, with a follow-up appearance on July 23, 2026.
Data & Statistics
- Age at appointment: 27 (January 2025)
- Children: Nico (born July 2024) and Viviana (born May 1, 2026)
- Tenure as press secretary: roughly 1.5 years (January 2025 – August 2026)
Official Statements & Responses
Leavitt confirmed she will continue to advise the president from outside the White House.
Potential Successors
No official replacement has been named. Media outlets have mentioned several possible candidates, including:
- Alina Habba, former acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey
- Matthew Boyle, Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief
- Steven Cheung, White House communications director
- Anna Kelly, principal deputy press secretary
Other names have appeared in speculation, but no confirmation exists.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on which individual is most likely to assume the role. The New York Post emphasizes Habba and Boyle, while other outlets highlight Cheung or Kelly. No outlet offers a definitive timeline for an interim appointment, and the White House has not indicated whether senior officials will temporarily cover briefings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect,” — President Trump
- “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,” — Karoline Leavitt
- “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” — Karoline Leavitt
