Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary, announced Wednesday that she will resign from her post at the end of the month, a decision insiders say has been months in the making and driven by the intense demands of balancing her role with motherhood.
Leavitt, 28, who returned to work on July 16 after giving birth to her daughter in May, stated that she cannot be the mother her two young children deserve while fulfilling the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary. She also has a two-year-old son with her husband, Nicholas Riccio.
Sources close to Leavitt indicated that she began seriously considering stepping down during her maternity leave, noting that President Trump frequently contacted her, expressing a desire for her return. "No doubt one of the hardest decisions of her life so far," one source commented.
In the weeks since her return, Leavitt reportedly experienced extreme burnout. "It was a very stressful job to do with her children. She never got any sleep, and she didn't want her performance to slip either, so she decided to stay as long as she could and do the job well," a source told the Daily Mail. "The president did everything he could to keep her." Another insider described the role as "thankless."
Leavitt had been confiding in close contacts over the past two months about her readiness to step down, seeking a way to resign with Trump's "blessing."
President Trump acknowledged Leavitt's departure on Truth Social, stating, "a decision I totally understand and respect." He praised her as "one of the best White House press secretaries in the history of the office" and announced she would remain an "outside adviser" and "influential voice" in the Republican Party.
Leavitt's tenure has been notable for her level of access, including participation in classified Situation Room meetings and steering strategy on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Her exit occurs at a sensitive time for Trump, who faces public scrutiny over economic issues and foreign policy.
Katie Miller, wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, expressed understanding for Leavitt's decision. "Babies have a way of changing your perspective and shifting your priorities that is truly unexplainable. You only have one chance when your children are little," Miller said. "Karoline is incredibly talented. I know she is going to have other major opportunities in her future."
Leavitt first joined Trump's orbit in 2018 as a presidential writer, later serving as assistant White House press secretary in the summer of 2020 before becoming press secretary for his 2024 campaign. She assumed the role of White House Press Secretary at age 27 following Trump's reelection. The search for her successor is ongoing, with no clear candidate yet appointed. 
