The White House announced today that Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position as Press Secretary, effective at the end of the month, following President Donald Trump’s statement. Leavitt, who has served as White House Press Secretary since last year, becoming the youngest person to hold the role, will spend time with her family, specifically her two young children and a baby daughter, according to a social media post. Trump stated that Leavitt is one of his ‘most trusted aides’ and that she will now serve as a key outside advisor within the Republican Party. Leavitt, 28, welcomed her second child, a baby girl, with husband Nicholas Riccio in May, and also has a two-year-old son. She returned to work from maternity leave last month, and in her post, wrote, ‘Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least.’ She continued, ‘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 – and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.’ Prior to her tenure at the White House, Leavitt had a long career with Trump, beginning as an assistant press secretary and speech writer during his first term. She later served as a top aide to New York Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik as communications director. In 2022, Leavitt unsuccessfully ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a contested primary but ultimately losing to Democrat Chris Pappas. She later became a spokesperson for Maga Inc, a pro-Trump fundraising group, before joining his 2024 electoral campaign as national press secretary. The announcement follows a series of recent events and discussions surrounding Trump’s leadership and his administration’s priorities, raising questions about his plans for the future of the White House press office and the continuity of communications strategies. The White House has not yet provided specific details regarding Leavitt’s future role or the transition process.
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Source: BBC News
