Trump says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to leave post

President Donald Trump has announced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be leaving her position at the end of the month. The president described Leavitt, whom he called one of his "most trusted aides", as departing to spend time with her young children and family. In a social media post, Trump said, "Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party."

Leavitt, 28, was appointed White House Press Secretary last year, becoming the youngest person to hold the role. She welcomed her second child, a baby girl, in May and returned to work from maternity leave last month. Leavitt acknowledged the challenge of balancing her role as a mother and a press secretary, stating that she feels she cannot be the best mother to her children while dedicating the necessary time, energy, and attention to the White House Press Secretary role.

Before her tenure at the White House, Leavitt had a long career working with Trump, first as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter during his first term and later as a communications director for New York Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik. She also ran for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022 but lost to Democrat Chris Pappas.

Leavitt has had a combative relationship with the media, accusing some reporters of being biased or left-wing. She is the second-longest serving press secretary in Trump's administration, following Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The BBC has reached out to the White House for further comment on who will replace her and the selection process for her replacement.