White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of the month and transition into a role as a top outside adviser to President Donald Trump, according to an announcement from the president reported by CBS News. Trump said Leavitt is stepping away from the daily demands of the White House so she can spend more time with her young children and family. The decision comes after Leavitt welcomed her second child, a daughter, and recently returned to her duties at the White House.
The change represents a departure from the press secretary’s podium, not from Trump’s broader political operation. Trump made clear that Leavitt will remain closely connected to him, describing her as “one of my most trusted aides” and saying she will become one of his “top outside advisors.” He also indicated that she is expected to remain an influential Republican voice as the party looks toward the midterm elections.
Details & Background
Leavitt has served as White House press secretary since the beginning of Trump’s second term. In that role, she became the administration’s chief public-facing spokeswoman, responsible for defending White House policy, answering questions from reporters and communicating the president’s agenda through one of the most closely watched positions in American politics. CBS News reported that the White House has not yet announced who will permanently succeed her or who may fill the position on an interim basis.
Her relationship with Trump stretches beyond her current White House assignment. In his announcement, Trump credited Leavitt with years of work on behalf of his political movement, including her role in his successful return-to-office campaign. Rather than describing the transition as an end to that relationship, Trump portrayed it as a shift into a different kind of political role — one that could allow Leavitt to continue advising him while spending more time outside the demanding daily schedule of the White House press operation.
Reactions
Trump offered unusually strong praise for his departing press secretary, emphasizing both her loyalty and her effectiveness. He described Leavitt as a leader inside the White House and praised her performance defending the administration’s priorities before the press. He also called her one of the “best White House Press Secretaries” to serve in the position and closed his tribute with the words “job well done.”
The president also publicly expressed support for Leavitt’s decision to prioritize her family while continuing to contribute from outside the administration. That distinction is important because high-profile White House departures can sometimes signal political friction or a complete separation from an administration. Trump’s announcement communicated the opposite: Leavitt is leaving a formal government post while retaining the president’s confidence and a place within his wider political circle.
Why This Matters to You
The White House press secretary serves as one of the most visible links between a president and the American public. The person standing at that podium is responsible not only for explaining administration policies but also for confronting questions, criticism and competing narratives from the national media. Leavitt’s departure therefore creates an important communications vacancy at a time when Trump continues pushing his domestic agenda and preparing Republicans for the next major electoral test.
For Americans following the Trump administration closely, however, Leavitt’s departure does not mean one of the president’s prominent allies is disappearing from public life. Trump has signaled that he expects her to continue advising him and playing a political role outside the White House. The administration must now select a successor capable of communicating its agenda clearly while handling the intense scrutiny attached to the position. Leavitt, meanwhile, is moving from an official government role into a position that could give her greater flexibility to support Trump politically while raising her young family. The podium will have a new face, but one of Trump’s most recognizable messengers is remaining in the fight.
