Leavitt Steps Down as Motherhood is Just More Important
Karoline Leavitt is leaving one of the most high-pressure jobs in American politics. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Leavitt will step down as White House press secretary at the end of August, bringing an end to the 28-year-old’s historic run as the youngest person ever to hold the position. The reason given for her departure is a familiar one, but in Washington, where almost every resignation generates a conspiracy theory before lunch, it is worth paying attention to what Leavitt herself says about the decision.
Trump broke the news on Truth Social, praising Leavitt as “one of my most trusted aides” and saying she would be leaving so she could spend more time with her “beautiful young children and family.” Trump added that it was a decision he “totally understand[s] and respect[s].” He also made clear that this is not necessarily the end of Leavitt’s political career. Trump said she will become one of his “top outside advisors” and remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as Republicans prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
Leavitt’s Journey and A Second Child is Born
The timing of the announcement is particularly notable. Leavitt recently returned to the White House after maternity leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, also have a young son. Leavitt has now acknowledged that trying to balance motherhood with the demands of the White House press secretary’s job became too difficult. In her own announcement, she described the decision as “bittersweet” and said that after returning to the White House following her daughter’s birth, she realized she could not be the mother her two young children deserve while also giving the job the constant time, energy and attention it requires.
Leavitt’s departure also marks the end of a remarkably fast political rise. Born in Atkinson, New Hampshire, in 1997, she attended Central Catholic High School before enrolling at Saint Anselm College, where she studied communications and political science. She initially became interested in political journalism and broadcasting before moving directly into Republican politics and eventually into Trump’s orbit.
Her first major White House position came during Trump’s first administration. After working in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence, Leavitt became an assistant White House press secretary in 2020 under then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. After Trump left office in 2021, she became communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who would later become one of Trump’s prominent allies.
Leavitt then tried something considerably more difficult: running for Congress herself. In 2022, she launched a campaign for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District and won a crowded Republican primary. She ultimately lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas, but the defeat hardly ended her political career. Instead, Leavitt moved even closer to Trump, working for MAGA Inc., Trump’s political action committee, before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary.
Trump Names Leavitt Press Secretary
Trump selected Leavitt as his White House press secretary in November 2024, and she formally assumed the position when Trump returned to the White House on January 20, 2025. At just 27 when she was selected and 28 when she took office, she became the youngest person in American history to serve as White House press secretary.
Her style was unmistakably Trumpian. Leavitt became known for aggressive exchanges with reporters, frequent criticism of what she called the “mainstream media,” and an effort to give conservative and alternative media outlets greater access to White House briefings. She also became a prominent television presence, frequently appearing on conservative media to promote the administration’s agenda.
Interestingly, Leavitt’s tenure was not defined solely by the traditional White House briefing room. Trump himself is an unusually active communicator, frequently speaking directly to reporters, posting on Truth Social and making statements while traveling. That has changed the traditional role of the press secretary. Rather than being the administration’s only public voice, Leavitt often functioned as one of several highly visible Trump defenders.
Now, she is preparing to leave the podium.
No Replacement Named Just Yet
Trump has not yet announced who will replace Leavitt, meaning the White House will soon have to find someone willing to inherit one of the most politically combustible jobs in Washington. The next press secretary will also take over with the 2026 midterm elections approaching, making the position particularly important as Republicans attempt to defend their congressional majorities.
For Leavitt, however, the next chapter appears to be less about leaving politics and more about changing her role in it. Trump has already signaled that he intends to keep her close as an outside adviser and Republican voice. At only 28 years old, Leavitt has already worked inside two Trump administrations, run for Congress, served on a presidential campaign and become the youngest White House press secretary in history.
Whatever one thinks of her politics or her confrontational style with reporters, that is an extraordinary political résumé for someone who is not even 30 years old.
And while Washington will immediately begin speculating about who replaces her, Leavitt’s stated reason for leaving is considerably less complicated. After spending years climbing the political ladder at an astonishing pace, she has decided that, for the moment, she wants more time with her children. In Washington, that may actually be one of the few decisions nobody needs a classified briefing to understand.
