
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, will leave the role at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump announced the move on…
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, will leave the role at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump announced the move on Wednesday, saying she would become one of his top outside advisers ahead of the midterm elections. Leavitt, the youngest person to serve in the role, gave birth to a daughter in May and returned from maternity leave last month.

Trump did not name a successor. According to The New York Post, contenders include Alina Habba, Breitbart's Matthew Boyle, and communications director Steven Cheung. Leavitt was known for her combative exchanges with the media and staunch defence of the President. Her departure comes as Trump faces challenges over Iran and the economy, with approval ratings under pressure.
Some portray Leavitt's exit as a blow to Trump ahead of midterms, yet she leaves as his 'top outside advisor', hardly a rupture. Others frame her family reasons as a soft landing, but the timing, three months before elections, is undeniably awkward. The real test: will Trump name a successor from inside his combative media team, like Steven Cheung, or pick an outsider like Alina Habba? The choice will signal whether the White House doubles down on confrontation or recalibrates.
Sources (2): thehindu.com, livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.