Key facts
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down at the end of the month.
- President Donald Trump announced Leavitt's departure.
- Leavitt cited prioritizing her children as the reason for her departure.
- Leavitt will remain an outside advisor and influential voice.
- Several individuals are being considered as potential replacements.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart her role at the end of the month, President Donald Trump announced. Leavitt, 28, stated her decision is to prioritize her children over the demands of the Press Secretary position. She will, however, remain an outside advisor and influential voice within the administration.
The departure creates a significant opening, and speculation about her successor has begun. While no decision has been made, several individuals are reportedly being considered. These include Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer for Trump; Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster and former Trump staffer; Anna Kelly, the current White House deputy press secretary; Sage Steele, a former television anchor and Trump supporter; Steven Cheung, the White House communications director; Tricia McLaughlin, a former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security; and Scott Jennings, a political commentator.
Leavitt has worked closely with Trump for years, and finding a replacement who can meet his expectations will be challenging. Some anticipate a temporary return to a system where high-ranking figures, such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, conduct press briefings in Leavitt's absence, rather than a direct substitute from her office.