White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaving role, Trump announces

<i>Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File via CNN Newsource</i><br/>White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on March 25. — Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File via CNN Newsource

By CNN

Published August 12, 2026 2:55 pm

By Betsy Klein, CNN

(CNN) — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.

The imminent departure of one of the president’s closest allies inside the White House marks a major shakeup for the president’s press operation, with less than three months until the midterm elections.

Describing her as “one of my most trusted aides,” Trump said in a social media post that Leavitt “will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!”

Leavitt, he added, will continue to serve as an outside adviser.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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