Karoline Leavitt, who served as the youngest press secretary in the Trump administration, has departed her White House post, stating her decision to step down was driven by a desire to spend more time with her two young children.
Leavitt's final day in the role was Thursday, August 27. She announced her resignation earlier in the month, initially citing family reasons. In a recent interview with News Nation's Markie Martin, Leavitt elaborated on her choice, explaining that the birth of her second daughter, Viviana "Vivi" in May, profoundly impacted her perspective.
"I think the birth of my second daughter, as I said in my statement, really just showed me that two children at home deserve and need their mothers 24/7 constant attention and presence," Leavitt said. "They are very young. This is a very impressionable time. And of course, we never get these years back with our young kids."
Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, also have a two-year-old son, Niko. She described the shift in her priorities after welcoming her newborn.
"Welcoming my daughter into this world in May, your heart changes as a mom," Leavitt continued. "Only mothers understand that. And I just prayed on it and talked to my husband night after night about what to do. I love this job so much… And sometimes in life you just can’t have it all at the same time. And I realize I’m at that moment in my life right now."
She expressed gratitude for her husband's support, noting his sacrifices to facilitate her role in Washington D.C.
"I do have to thank my husband," Leavitt told Martin. "He has just been an angel and a blessing to me and my kids, really has given up a lot to move to DC, a town he's unfamiliar with. He took a step back from his own career to be here for me and support me."
Leavitt also characterized her time working for President Trump as "the honor and blessing of a lifetime" and stated that he was supportive of her family situation.
Leavitt brought her husband and two children to her last day at the White House, with the family posing for a photograph in front of the press podium. Leavitt, 29, and Riccio, 60, have an age difference of 32 years, a dynamic she has previously described as an "atypical love story."
She recounted meeting her husband during her Congressional campaign in New Hampshire through a mutual friend. "I was speaking. We met and we were acquainted as friends. And then we fell in love," Leavitt said.
Regarding her future, Leavitt mentioned plans to continue as an advisor to the President. Reports also suggest she may be considering a potential role as a co-host on the ABC daytime show "The View," with discussions reportedly ongoing and positive reception from Trump and White House officials.