White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving her role at the end of this month, saying she cannot be the mother she wants to be while doing one of the most demanding jobs in American politics.

Trump announced the departure on Truth Social this afternoon, calling Leavitt 'one of my most trusted aides' and saying the decision was about family.

"Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, Karoline 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!" he wrote.

He added that she had been 'one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office'.

Credit: Karoline Leavitt/Instagram.

What Leavitt said

Leavitt posted her own statement on X shortly after Trump's announcement. It was longer and more personal than anything she has shared publicly since taking the job.

"The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary," she wrote.

She called it a 'bittersweet decision' and said the past year and a half had been the experience of a lifetime.

She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May. She went on maternity leave the same month and returned to the briefing room podium in July. Less than six weeks later, she is leaving.

Who is Karoline Leavitt?

Leavitt is 28 years old, from Atkinson, New Hampshire. She graduated from Saint Anselm College and began working for Trump in 2018 during his first term as an assistant press secretary.

She went on to serve as national press secretary for his 2024 campaign. After the election, she was named White House press secretary in November 2024. She was the youngest person to hold the role in American history.

She was also the first woman to serve as press secretary while pregnant, announcing her second pregnancy after she was already in the job.

She is married to Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer. They have two children.

She became known for a combative approach at the lectern, regularly sparring with the White House press corps in a style that Trump clearly valued.

She was the only person to hold the role during his second term. In his first term, he went through four: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany.

Credit: Win McNamee/Getty

What happens next?

Leavitt will stay until the end of August. After that, she moves to an outside advisory role, working with the Republican Party on the midterm elections in November.

Trump framed it as a promotion: "Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections."

No successor has been named. During Leavitt's maternity leave earlier this summer, press briefings became less frequent and the White House filled the gap by putting VP JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio behind the lectern instead, with mixed results.

The departure leaves Trump without a press secretary less than three months before the midterms, which is either a problem or an opportunity to install someone new depending on how you look at it.

Leavitt turns 29 on August 24, six days before her last day in the job.

Featured image credit: Instagram/Karoline Leavitt

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is reportedly under some serious strain because of her job working for President Donald Trump, as people have been studying her social media output.

Leavitt, 28, seemed to share more than usual on her social media accounts in a recent post, which has people wondering whether she is OK.

Karoline Leavitt has a stressful job - and it could be getting to her

Having Donald Trump as a boss must be stressful at the best of times, but right now things are all over the place.

He’s currently embroiled in the all-encompassing Epstein debate, as well as promising most people in the USA $2,000, and calling reporters names on Air Force One.

There’s never a dull moment in Karoline Leavitt’s role as White House press secretary.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty

However, Leavitt is always put out there to defend her boss, whatever situation he might be in - from the fallout from the death of Charlie Kirk to some of the - shall we say - stranger allegations involving stories about Bill Clinton.

Still Leavitt keeps busy outside of work too, spending time with her family including her husband Nicolas Riccio and their baby son born in 2024.

Recently, she shared a number of stories on Instagram that got a few tongues wagging.

First off, she shared some harmless snaps from a recent trip to Palm Beach, writing about how ‘the ocean is [her] happy place’.

Things then took an emotional turn

After sharing a few more pics from her swanky getaway with her husband, including her breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel, she then took a more personal turn.

Leavitt shared a picture from the Bible, sharing the underlined quote ‘for when I am weak, then I am strong’.

She then shared another quote that read: "What a privilege it is to have your bed taken up by a small human who thinks it's the safest place in the world to be.”

Over that image, Leavitt wrote "crying".

Speaking to Mirror US, clinical psychologist Christine Schneider of the Cambridge Therapy Center gave her own take on how Leavitt might be coping.

She said: "Working as a Press Secretary means living under constant pressure. Every word, every facial expression, and every pause is dissected by the media and the public.

"That level of exposure can be incredibly demanding mentally."

"Someone in Karoline Leavitt’s position likely faces chronic stress, anxiety around public performance, and exhaustion from the nonstop pace of her role.

"There’s often a need to stay composed no matter what’s happening behind the scenes, and that emotional control, while impressive, can come at a cost."

Schneider continued: "It’s what psychologists sometimes refer to as emotional labor: the effort of managing one’s feelings to maintain a professional image.

"Over time, it can lead to burnout, irritability, and difficulty switching off after work.”

If you will work for (presumably) the most stressful man in the world - as well as one of the most powerful - you might end up feeling a bit frazzled yourself at times.

Featured image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, has recently revealed that she is expecting her second child. With the arrival of her baby girl due in May, it appears that Leavitt will soon be stepping away from her role to take maternity leave.

This news has sparked widespread speculation about who might step in for her during her time off, with some familiar faces emerging as potential replacements.

As reported by The Mirror, among the names circulating is Anna Kelly, a former beauty queen and current Assistant Press Secretary in the Trump administration.

Kelly has a strong political background, having worked on various Republican campaigns and in communications for lawmakers and state party groups. Her experience makes her a strong candidate to fill Leavitt's shoes while she takes time off for her growing family.

Anna Kelly. Credit: X

Anna Kelly’s rise to prominence

Anna Kelly, a Fairfax, Virginia native, is a graduate of Auburn University, where she studied political science and was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. In 2017, she earned her degree, which was followed by a Masters in Political Management from George Washington University. In addition to her political expertise, Kelly's previous experience as a beauty queen adds another layer of intrigue to her profile.

In 2019, Kelly won the Miss State Fair of Virginia title, which showcases her confidence and public speaking abilities - skills that could easily translate into her role as an interim press secretary. With her professional experience and public persona, she has quickly become one of the leading contenders to temporarily replace Karoline Leavitt.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Credit: Anadolu / Getty

The potential lineup of replacements

While Kelly may be the frontrunner, she is not the only name mentioned in connection with Leavitt's role. Other possible candidates include Taylor Rogers, Liz Huston, and Kush Desai. All of these individuals are well-versed in communications and have held significant roles in the Trump administration.

As speculation grows, many are eagerly awaiting confirmation on who will step in for Leavitt, as her brief maternity leave approaches. Whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill, but Anna Kelly’s unique combination of political savvy and public experience could make her a suitable candidate for the job.

Featured image credit: X

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt found herself at the center of widespread social media ridicule on Wednesday after offering an unusual explanation for President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran.

The administration has already given multiple justifications for the strikes.

But during a press briefing, Leavitt appeared to introduce yet another reason - one critics quickly summarized as being based largely on “vibes”.

Her remarks came as reporters pressed the White House for clarity about what exactly prompted the military operation.

Reporter Questions Lack Of Clear ‘Imminent Threat’ Behind Iran Strike

During Wednesday’s press briefing, a reporter from The Independent challenged the administration’s explanation for the military action, asking why officials still had not clearly outlined the threat that justified the operation.

Specifically, the reporter asked why the administration “can’t say what the imminent threat against the United States was” that required the US to launch Operation Epic Fury.

Leavitt responded by promising to clarify the president’s reasoning behind the decision.

She told reporters that she would “explain to you exactly what led the president to make the decision.”

Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

White House Says Decision Came From ‘Cumulative Effect’ Of Threats

According to Leavitt, the decision to carry out the strike wasn’t tied to a single event but rather a broader pattern of threats from Iran.

“This decision to launch this operation was based on a cumulative effect of various direct threats that Iran posed to the United States of America, and the president’s feeling, based on fact, that Iran does pose an imminent and direct threat to the United States of America,” she said.

Leavitt described Iran as “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” while also claiming the country was “rapidly and aggressively building up” its missile programme.

She also accused Iran of being “hellbent on death and destruction.”

Leavitt Says Trump Had A ‘Feeling’ Iran Was Preparing To Strike

The press secretary continued by emphasizing that Trump’s decision ultimately came from his assessment of the situation, which she said was grounded in both intelligence and instinct.

“The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States, was going to strike our assets in the region, and he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury based on all of those reasons.”

However, the phrasing immediately caught attention online.

Social Media Points Out Irony Of ‘Facts Don’t Care About Your Feelings’

Leavitt’s explanation quickly sparked mockery across social media platforms, where users highlighted the wording of her comments.

Many pointed out the irony that conservatives have long embraced the phrase “facts don’t care about your feelings,” popularized by podcaster Ben Shapiro.

Given that context, critics argued the press secretary’s repeated references to the president’s “feeling” about the threat stood out.

As the clip circulated online, the phrasing became a focal point for critics questioning the administration’s evolving explanations for Operation Epic Fury.

Featured image credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared a bold statement about President Donald Trump and his strikes on Iran.

The status of negotiations between the US and Iran have been at the forefront of the news, after Trump, along with Israel, launched a surprise strike on February 28, 2026, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.

Iran immediately retaliated with strikes of their own, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz, causing complications for global oil and gas shipments.

Leavitt shared an update on how negotiations between the US and Iran have been going, as well as a strong message for the nation during a recent press briefing.

Karoline Leavitt shared a bold statement regarding peace talks with Iran. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

She warned that while Trump would prefer peace, he is ready to "unleash hell" if Tehran does not cooperate on a deal to end the war.

Leavitt told reporters: "The president's preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction.

"But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

"President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again."

Sources told ABC News that the Trump administration sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran by way of Pakistan, however, Iran's Press TV quoted an official saying that Iran rejects the proposal, while officials in Tehran have publicly denied any talks have taken place.

In contrast, on Wednesday Leavitt insisted that the negotiations were ongoing and "productive", but did not share any specifics.

When asked whether talks have hit a dead end, Leavitt hit back: "They have not."

Trump had also said on Monday that he would postpone major attacks on Tehran's energy infrastructure until Friday after claiming that he'd had "productive" talks with Iran.

Leavitt added: "The remaining elements of the Iranian regime have another opportunity to cooperate with President Trump, permanently abandoned their nuclear ambitions, and cease actively threatening America and our allies."

Both Egypt and Pakistan have offered to host talks to facilitate an end to the conflict, with a Pakistani official previously claiming to ABC News that a potential in-person meeting was being planned in Islamabad.

However, Leavitt urged people not to speculate on unconfirmed claims, adding: "I've seen a lot of speculation and reporting about potential talks that could happen later this week. Nothing should be deemed official until it is announced formally by the White House."

Trump had also earlier told reporters of a "very big present" Iran allegedly gifted the US, without revealing what it was, except that it was related oil and the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt did not elaborate on the gift - which some believe was a ship carrying 2 million barrels of oil that successfully made its way through the strait on Tuesday - and said: "I’ll let the president speak on that at the appropriate time."

Donald Trump opened up on a "gift" from Iran. Credit: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

It comes after Leavitt made an unexpected career move after admitting her "regrets".

The White House’s Press Secretary is teaming up with Erika Kirk, wife of late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, to give a talk about “free speech” at a college as part of a nationwide tour.

The 'This is the Turning Point USA Tour' will kick off at George Washington University on April 2, with Leavitt as the first special guest, while Erika Kirk will continue the tour visiting college campuses across the country.

The announcement of her guest appearance comes just days after Karoline shared a post about regrets on her Instagram stories.

The post read: "Things you’ll never regret: Praying, putting your phone down, listening over talking, calling your mom, reading the bible.

"Investing in memories, being thankful, forgiving others, forgiving yourself, giving a compliment, drinking more water, saying 'I love you,' and trusting god."

Featured image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images