White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced her resignation, stating a need to spend more time with her family. The announcement, made Wednesday afternoon, followed a period of intense professional and personal demands.
Leavitt, 28, explained in her statement that balancing her role as a mother to two young children with the responsibilities of the White House Press Secretary position had become increasingly challenging. "Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life," Leavitt wrote. She returned from maternity leave on July 16, having given birth to her daughter in May. Her son is two years old.
Sources close to Leavitt indicated that the decision to resign had been considered for months. One insider suggested that the president had frequently contacted her during her maternity leave, expressing a desire for her return. The pressure to balance her work and family life reportedly led to significant "burnout" in the weeks following her return.
"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 said. "The president did everything he could to keep her."
Leavitt's resignation announcement drew attention for a photograph accompanying her statement. The image, which depicted Leavitt and President Donald Trump fielding questions from reporters outside the White House, appeared to have been digitally altered. A "made with AI" mark was present on the post. Comparisons to a Getty photograph from July 15 of the previous year suggest alterations to Leavitt's face and body, as well as subtle changes to the president's appearance. The White House press secretary has not commented on the use of AI in the photograph.
Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary. Insiders suggest that the process of selecting a successor is underway, with the president reportedly valuing Leavitt's trustworthiness and wishing to maintain stability within his circle as he focuses on his remaining time in office.