Karoline Leavitt will step down as White House press secretary at the end of August, moving to an outside communications advisory role as the Trump administration heads into the intensely crucial November midterm election cycle.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social, noting Leavitt—identified as 27 in some filings and 28 in others—has been a trusted aide since her 2018 White House internship and later as assistant press secretary from 2019 to 2021. She became the youngest press secretary at age 27 after the 2025 inauguration, took maternity leave in May for her second child, and returned to briefings in July.
Leavitt’s departure removes a combative media strategist from the White House staff, but Trump indicated she will remain a top outside adviser and an influential voice within the Republican Party, suggesting her role will continue shaping the administration’s messaging and campaign efforts ahead of the midterms.
Reports differ on Leavitt’s exact age—one source lists her as 27, another as 28—and on whether her initial White House role began as a 2018 intern or as a 2019 assistant press secretary, reflecting inconsistent biographical details across the filings.