Full Breakdown
Karoline Leavitt Leaves White House Press Office for Trump Super PAC
8/23/2026, 11:33:39 AM
Core Event: Resignation and Move to MAGA Inc.
Karoline Leavitt announced on Aug 12 that she would step down as White House press secretary at the end of the month. On Aug 21, aboard Air Force One en route to a rally in South Carolina, she confirmed that the flight to Myrtle Beach would be her final trip in the role. Leavitt said she will re-join the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc., which Politico reported holds a war chest of roughly $350 million. She also indicated she will attend the Republican midterm convention in September.
Background & Context
Leavitt, 28, became the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history when she assumed the post in January 2025. Prior to the role she served as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., worked on Trump’s 2024 campaign, and held communications positions for Rep. Elise Stefanik and Trump’s first-term press team. She returned from maternity leave on July 16 after giving birth to her second child in May.
Data & Statistics
- Age at appointment: 28
- Tenure length: 18 months (second-longest under Trump)
- MAGA Inc. war chest: $350 million (Politico)
- Children: two
Official Statements & Responses
Leavitt explained she could not “be the best mom” while meeting the “constant time, energy, and attention” required by the press secretary post. White House officials confirmed that no immediate successor has been appointed.
Reactions
- Mason Fouquet, vice president of TPUSA at Washington State University, called the decision “highly commendable.”
- Jenna Ghant, president of the WSU Young Democrats, described the departure as “relatively surprising” and criticized Leavitt’s role in marginalizing traditional news outlets.
Replacement Search
The White House has not announced a successor. President Trump mentioned possible candidates, including CNN commentator Scott Jennings, communications aide Margo Martin, and an unnamed “friend from Iowa.” Other names circulating in media reports are deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, executive assistant Natalie Harp, and former Trump attorney Alina Habba, who ruled herself out. Sources say chief of staff Susie Wiles has met with Jennings, but the process remains “far from complete.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Different outlets list varying frontrunners—CNN and Fox News cite Jennings, while The Hill and The Independent also reference Martin and Habba. No official list has been released, and the timeline for a final appointment remains unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have never had so many job applications in my life,” — Donald Trump
- “She’s made that job very glamorous,” — Donald Trump
- “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party,” — Donald 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 — 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,” — Karoline Leavitt
What’s Next
Leavitt plans to resume work at MAGA Inc. in September, coinciding with the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. President Trump will take time to evaluate candidates for the press secretary vacancy, with senior staff emphasizing the need for a “grown-up” who can balance on-camera duties and behind-the-scenes coordination.
