Trump announced the departure on Aug. 12, saying Leavitt would continue working as an adviser and remain active in Republican politics ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. No successor has been announced. Leavitt recently returned to the White House after taking maternity leave following the birth of her second child, making her departure only weeks after her return to the briefing room.

Leavitt became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary when Trump selected her for the position at age 27 in January 2025. Before joining the second Trump administration, she worked in Trump’s first administration, served as a spokesperson for his 2024 presidential campaign and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022. During her tenure, the White House expanded access for independent and digital media outlets while Leavitt held fewer traditional press briefings than several recent predecessors and frequently appeared with conservative media organizations.