Full Breakdown
Karoline Leavitt Leaves White House Press Briefings for Trump Super PAC
8/26/2026, 9:19:42 PM
Core Event: Leavitt’s Departure and Return to MAGA Inc.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she will leave the administration at the end of August and re-join President Donald Trump’s super-PAC, MAGA Inc. She said the decision was driven by a desire to spend more time with her two young children after returning from maternity leave. Leavitt will remain active in Trump-aligned politics, including attending the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in September.
Background & Context
Leavitt entered national politics as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc. before joining Trump’s 2024 campaign. She became the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history in January 2025, serving for roughly 18 months. Prior to her White House role, she hosted a program on One America News, where she promoted election-fraud claims and interviewed figures such as Rudy Giuliani.
Timeline
- March 22 2021 – Leavitt’s premiere OAN episode aired, featuring former HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
- August 12 – President Trump announced on Truth Social that Leavitt would step down and become a top outside adviser.
- August 31 (scheduled) – Leavitt’s last day as press secretary.
- September 9–10 (scheduled) – Leavitt is expected to travel on Air Force One for the RNC’s midterm convention.
- February 27 2026 (scheduled) – A separate report notes Trump and Leavitt departed the White House together before boarding Marine One.
Data & Statistics
- White House salary: $195,200 per year.
- MAGA Inc. war chest: Reports vary between $350 million (Deadline) and $305 million (Daily Beast), reflecting different reporting periods.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- War-chest figures: The $350 million figure comes from a Deadline report; the $305 million figure appears in Daily Beast coverage of MAGA Inc.’s filings. Both numbers are attributed to the respective outlets.
- February 27 2026 flight: One report states Leavitt left the White House alongside Trump before boarding Marine One on that date, while other sources place her final Air Force One trip in August 2024. The timing remains unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You guys will still see me all the time,” — Karoline Leavitt, press secretary
- “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
- “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party,” — President 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
- “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections. Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024,” — Donald Trump
