White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will resign from her position at the end of August 2026 [1].
Leavitt's departure marks a significant shift in the administration's communications team, as she has served as the primary liaison between the president and the press corps.
President Donald Trump announced the transition on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. He said Leavitt is stepping down to focus on her growing family and spend more time with her children [2, 3]. While she is leaving the official role of press secretary, she will remain connected to the administration by becoming an outside adviser to the president [1, 2].
Leavitt, 28 [4], made history as the youngest person to ever hold the role of White House Press Secretary [5]. Her tenure was characterized by a close relationship with the president, who praised her performance during the announcement.
"Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office," Trump said [6]. He said she was his "most trusted" [7].
The resignation becomes effective at the end of August 2026 [1]. The White House has not yet named a successor to fill the vacancy in the press office. The transition allows Leavitt to balance her professional contributions to the administration with her personal family priorities, while maintaining a strategic role as a consultant.
Leavitt's move to an outside advisory position suggests that the administration values her counsel despite her exit from the daily pressures of the briefing room. This arrangement allows the president to retain her expertise while she manages her family obligations.
“Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
The transition of the youngest press secretary in history to an outside advisory role indicates a desire by the Trump administration to keep loyalists in a strategic capacity even after they exit high-visibility public roles. By shifting Leavitt to an advisory position, the administration maintains its internal communication continuity while addressing the personal needs of a key staff member.
