White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart her role at the end of the month, President Donald Trump announced. Trump stated that Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family. She gave birth to her daughter, her second child, on May 1.

Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, made history as the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history when she assumed the position in January 2025 at the age of 27.

She graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2019, where she studied politics and communication on an athletic scholarship and played softball. During her college years, she completed internships at Fox News and in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.

Following her graduation, Leavitt joined the first Trump administration, eventually rising to the role of assistant White House press secretary under then-Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Trump's first term saw notable turnover in the position, with four individuals serving as press secretary across four years. After Trump left office, she transitioned to serving as communications director for Representative Elise Stefanik of New York.

In 2022, Leavitt launched a congressional campaign in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. She secured the Republican nomination but ultimately lost the general election to Democratic Representative Chris Pappas. She later became the national press secretary for Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and, following his victory in November 2024, was selected to serve as White House press secretary.

The White House press secretary serves as the primary spokesperson for the administration, conducting regular press briefings and serving as a key liaison between the president and the media. No successor was named in conjunction with the departure announcement.

Born on August 24, 1997, Leavitt is 28 years old as of August 2026. She is married to real-estate developer Nicholas Riccio, and they have two children.

Known for a combative and direct style with the press corps reminiscent of Trump himself, Leavitt has been regarded as a fiercely loyal supporter of the president throughout her tenure.

During her maternity leave, White House press conferences were conducted by a rotating group of administration officials, including cabinet members and Vice President JD Vance.