Karoline Leavitt: Trump's press secretary resigns from the White House

Karoline Leavitt has stepped down as press secretary of the White House after serving for one and a half years under President Donald Trump. The 28-year-old announced her departure on Wednesday via the social media platform X, calling her time in the role “the greatest honor and adventure” of her life. She cited the need to spend more time with her family as the reason for leaving her post, which she will vacate by the end of the month. Leavitt recently gave birth to her second child and is the youngest person in U.S. history to hold this position. President Trump expressed his understanding of her decision, stating he could fully comprehend why she was stepping away. He added that Leavitt would remain among his most important external advisors and continue to serve as a influential voice within the Republican Party. Earlier, Trump had once remarked that Leavitt’s lips moved “like a machine gun,” and he even promised he would “never replace” her. As Trump's press secretary, Leavitt frequently expressed disdain for mainstream media. She often criticized reports that covered Trump and his policies critically, and she regularly repeated false claims made by the president. During press briefings at the White House, she engaged in verbal sparring with journalists. Three particular moments stand out in memory. During a press conference in March 2025, Leavitt clashed with Josh Boak, a reporter from the Associated Press (AP). The topic was Trump’s tariff policy and its financial impact on American citizens. Boak asked why Trump would accept tax increases through tariffs instead of implementing the tax cuts he promised during his campaign. Leavitt countered, saying, “He doesn’t implement tax hikes. Tariffs are taxes on foreign countries that have exploited us again. Tariffs are actually a tax cut for the American population, and the president is strongly advocating for them.” Boak responded, “Excuse me, have you ever paid a tariff? I have. Tariffs are charged to importers, not foreign companies.” Leavitt insisted that tariffs ultimately benefit the American public. She then said, “I find it offensive that you try to question my economic knowledge and the president’s decisions.” She continued, “Now I regret having given AP the opportunity to ask a question.” In February of this year, Leavitt abruptly ended a press briefing after a journalist asked whether the government still supported Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. This came after Lutnick testified before a Senate committee that he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012. Previously, he claimed he had ended his relationship with Epstein years earlier. Leavitt referred to Lutnick as “a very important member of Trump’s team” and stated the president stood “fully behind him.” At the same time, she criticized the journalists in the press room for repeatedly bringing up the same issue and pointed instead to several government achievements, including developments in the stock market. Before leaving the podium, she said, “So we’re back to business. The president is very busy today, and tomorrow you’ll see him in the East Room promoting his administration’s energy policy.” Then she exited the stage. During a January press conference, Leavitt addressed a question from columnist Niall Stanage of The Hill regarding the methods used by immigration enforcement agency ICE. Stanage referenced a statement from former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about ICE agents. Leavitt did not complete her response before turning to another subject, but she later labeled Stanage a leftist activist, further highlighting her confrontational style toward critics of the administration. Her tenure as press secretary was marked by a consistent defense of Trump’s positions and a willingness to challenge journalistic scrutiny directly. Leavitt’s departure leaves the White House press secretary position open, with no immediate successor named. Her exit comes amid ongoing political tensions and a highly polarized media environment. As she moves forward, her influence within the Republican Party is expected to remain significant, despite her new focus on family life.