Trump jokes Leavitt quit because she likes children more

US President Donald Trump joked that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt "likes her children more than she likes Trump" as she prepares to leave the post at the end of August. Speaking in a Fox News interview, Trump praised Leavitt and suggested Fox correspondent Alexis McAdams could replace her. Trump told McAdams: "How about you?" and said she could do the job.

Leavitt announced this week she would step down to devote more time to her two young children. She gave birth to her second child on May 1 and returned to the podium on July 16. Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser. The White House has not named a successor. Iran's embassy in South Africa linked her exit to a ruse involving Trump's aircraft in Turkey, but Leavitt and Trump have cited family reasons.