The Trump administration has been in turmoil. Now it’s going even further.
And a key Trump official resigned in a huge shock to everyone.
Karoline Leavitt, one of the most visible faces of the Trump White House and the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, is stepping away from the podium at the end of the month, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Rather than exiting the political arena, Leavitt will pivot to an outside advisory role focused on the party’s midterm push.
Trump framed the move as a family decision, not a falling-out, praising her tenure in personal terms while signaling she’ll remain in his inner circle heading into a pivotal election year.
A Trusted Aide Steps Back, Not Away
“Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!” Trump said in a statement.
Rather than a clean break, Trump made clear Leavitt would remain a fixture in his political operation. “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections,” he said.
The president leaned on her track record dating back to his 2024 campaign to make the case that her influence would only grow from outside the West Wing. “Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024,” Trump said. “Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office. Thank you, Karoline, for a job well done!”
A Vacancy At A Critical Moment
Trump’s statement did not name a successor at the podium, leaving one of the administration’s most high-profile communications posts unfilled as the White House heads into a stretch dominated by immigration enforcement fights, the ongoing socialist surge inside the Democratic Party, and preparations for the fall midterms. Allies of the administration, including senior adviser Stephen Miller, quickly offered public praise for Leavitt’s tenure following the announcement.
Leavitt built a reputation during her time behind the podium for combative exchanges with the press corps and unflinching defenses of the president’s agenda, becoming a favorite among the administration’s supporters even as she drew regular criticism from Democrats and mainstream outlets.
What Comes Next
With Leavitt shifting into an advisory capacity, her new role is expected to place her closer to the party’s 2026 campaign strategy rather than day-to-day press briefings — a move that keeps a proven communicator in Trump’s orbit without the daily grind of the briefing room. The transition comes as Republicans look to defend their House and Senate majorities against a newly energized progressive wing of the Democratic Party, a dynamic that has dominated headlines out of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota in recent days.
