White House had an 'ethical requirement' to tell reporters about plane swap, former CIA director says

President Donald Trump has announced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be leaving her position at the end of the month. Leavitt, who was appointed last year and became the youngest person to hold the role, cited her desire to spend time with her young children and family as the reason for her departure. In a social media post, Trump called Leavitt one of his most trusted aides and stated that he understands and respects her decision.

Leavitt, 28, has been a longtime aide to Trump, serving as an assistant press secretary and speech writer during his first term and later as a communications director for Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022 but later became a spokesperson for Maga Inc, a pro-Trump fundraising group.

Leavitt welcomed her second child, a baby girl, in May and returned to work from maternity leave last month. Her tenure has been marked by a sometimes combative relationship with the media, with Leavitt accusing some reporters of being biased or left-wing. Despite this, supporters of the Trump administration praised her for remaining on message and fiercely defending the president's policies.

As Trump's sixth chief spokesperson has yet to be determined, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Leavitt a close friend and role model, expressing his intention to continue working with her on future endeavors.