Donald Trump announces White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave role

Donald Trump's press secretary will be departing her White House role, the US president has announced.

Praising her as "one of my most trusted aides", Mr Trump said Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of the month "to spend more time with her beautiful young children and family".

He called the step "a decision I totally understand and respect" and said she would be one of his top outside advisors moving forward.

Posting on his own social network, Truth Social, Mr Trump continued: "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.

"Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office."

In a statement, Ms Leavitt said her time in the role had been "the honour and adventure of a lifetime", adding: "It has been a privilege to serve alongside so many accomplished and impressive people, and I look forward to cheering them on over the next two and a half years."

While Ms Leavitt said that stepping down was "bittersweet", she insisted it was the best decision for her family.

She wrote: "Since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mum 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."

She said that Mr Trump had asked her to "continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside", adding that her "fight" with what she called "an increasingly extremist Democrat Party" was "far from over".

Picked by the president in November 2024, Ms Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person to hold the office in US history.

She previously served as a press aide for Mr Trump during his first term in the White House and has been one of the most visible advocates of the president's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

Mr Trump has not given any indication as to who might replace her in the role.

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(c) Sky News 2026: Donald Trump announces White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave role