White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her decision to step down from her role on Tuesday. Calling the move “bittersweet,” the press secretary stated that she will be stepping down in order to focus on her family.
Leavitt, who is the youngest press secretary, returned to the White House two months after welcoming her second child.
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In a post on social media. Leavitt added that the goal is now to spend more time with her family, including her children. However, insiders have revealed that this decision was not as abrupt as it seems.
Stress, burnout and Trump’s pleas
Citing people familiar with the matter, the Daily Mail reported that Leavitt had been considering leaving the post during her maternity leave.
The source further told the UK-based outlet that Leavitt had considered all options before quitting, as US President would often call her during her maternity leave to ask when she would be returning.
Another source stated that Leavitt experienced an extreme burnout after her return in July.
“It was a very stressful job to do with her children. She never got any sleep, and she didn’t want her performance to slip either, so she decided to stay as long as she could and do the job well,’ the source told Daily Mail.
They added that Trump made his best attempts to keep her and convince Leavitt to stay on.
“Trump really didn’t want her to leave as he actually trusts her and doesn’t like having to deal with new people in his circle when he wants to focus on getting stuff done in his time left in office,” another source added.
People close to the press secretary added that Leavitt was ready to step down but wanted to do so only after Trump’s “blessing.”
“Babies have a way of changing your perspective and shifting your priorities that is truly unexplainable. You only have one chance when your children are little. Karoline is incredibly talented. I know she is going to have other major opportunities in her future,” Katie Miller, wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, told the Daily Mail.
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Trump pitches ‘advisor’ role for Leavitt
In his message on Truth Social, the US president wrote that he respects Leavitt’s decision to step down and focus on family.
Trump added that Leavitt would remain a key adviser for the White House and an influential voice for the Republican Party ahead of the mid-term elections in November.
“Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024,” he wrote on Truth Social.
