White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announces departure at end of August

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday, 13 August 2026, that she will leave her position at the end of August, stating she wishes to focus on her family, including two young children and a new baby.

Leavitt, who is 28 years old, became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary when she took the role at age 27, according to the Times of India. She had returned from maternity leave only on 16 July, according to that outlet.

In a statement posted to X, Leavitt wrote that 'being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life,' and that she could not be 'the best mom my two young children deserve' while giving the role the 'constant time, energy, and attention' it demands, according to the Times of India.

President Trump said Leavitt was leaving to spend more time with her 'beautiful young children and family,' a decision he 'totally understands and respects,' according to the Times of India. In the same statement, Trump said she would become one of his 'top outside advisors' and 'an influential voice' in the Republican Party ahead of the November midterms, according to that outlet.

Leavitt confirmed that Trump had 'asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside,' and said her 'fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,' according to the Times of India.

According to the Times of India, Leavitt entered Trump's orbit in 2018, worked in his first White House communications operation, later led communications for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, and served as Trump's national press secretary during the 2024 campaign.

The Times of India noted that speculation circulated on social media linking her resignation to an incident during Trump's recent trip to Turkey, in which Leavitt reportedly remained on a decoy plane while Natalie Harp, described as someone who manages some of Trump's social media posting, traveled with the president. That outlet stated there is 'no credible evidence that the airplane episode caused Leavitt's resignation, nor evidence of the alleged argument with Trump or Harp,' and characterised the connection as speculation based on timing alone.

According to the Times of India, Leavitt's tenure was marked by a combative style toward reporters, promotion of 'new media' outlets including podcasters and influencers in the briefing room, and participation in high-level White House meetings and briefings.

• Neither source establishes the identity of Leavitt's replacement or whether a successor has been named.
• The Turkey airplane incident and any alleged disagreement between Leavitt and Trump or Natalie Harp remain unverified; no source provides direct evidence linking that episode to the resignation.
• Natalie Harp's role and her response to the speculation about the Turkey incident are not addressed in either source.
• The precise timeline of internal White House discussions leading to the departure is not established by any source.
• Details about Leavitt's planned outside advisory role, including scope or compensation, are not provided.

1. The Times of India — original — by Chidanand Rajghatta
2. Al Jazeera English

Read the original at The Times of India

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