‘I Cannot Be The Best Mum’: Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Quits White House To Focus On Family, Takes New Role
‘I Cannot Be The Best Mum’: Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Quits White House To Focus On Family, Takes New Role
Trump said Leavitt would also remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as he prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced her decision to leave the Trump administration at the end of the month, saying she cannot give her two young children the attention they deserve while handling one of the most demanding jobs in the US government.
President Donald Trump announced Leavitt’s departure on Wednesday, praising the 28-year-old as he revealed that she would continue working with him as one of his top outside advisers.
Trump said Leavitt would also remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as he prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
In a statement announcing her departure, Leavitt described her time as White House press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked Trump for entrusting her with the role.
She said the position had given her the opportunity to work in the West Wing, spend time in the Oval Office, travel around the world and meet foreign leaders, as well as travel across the United States and meet Americans from different walks of life.
“Most of all, I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium,” Leavitt said.
She said she had taken pride in defending the administration’s record and challenging what she described as the liberal media.
“I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes,” she said.
However, Leavitt said becoming a mother while serving as White House press secretary had been both the most rewarding and challenging period of her life.
“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, to say the least,” she said.
She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May and returned to the White House podium from maternity leave on July 16.
Leavitt said her return to work ultimately made her realise that she could not balance the demands of the position with being the mother she wanted to be.
“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary,” she said.
“And that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.”
Despite leaving her formal White House position, Leavitt said Trump had asked her to continue serving as a top adviser to him from outside the administration.
“President Trump has asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside, and I will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party,” she said.
Trump also said Leavitt would play a role in efforts to secure Republican victories in the upcoming midterm elections.
Leavitt became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary when Trump appointed her at 27.
She had served as the public face of Trump’s administration at the White House podium throughout the first part of his second term, frequently defending the president and sparring with reporters.
In her statement, Leavitt said leaving the administration did not mean ending her political fight.
“My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” she said, while accusing Democrats of posing what she called an “existential threat” to the country.
She also thanked Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, the Trump family, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, members of the administration, her colleagues and her staff.
Leavitt reserved particular thanks for her husband and family, saying they had made sacrifices that enabled her to serve as White House press secretary.
“And of course, thank you most especially to my loving and supportive husband and family for the sacrifices they made for me to serve in this role,” she said.
