Leavitt Resigns as White House Press Secretary to Focus on Family

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her departure from the role at the end of the month, citing a desire to spend more time with her family after the birth of her second child. The move comes less than three months before the November midterms and at a moment when President Donald Trump’s approval rating has reached a record low of negative 27 points in recent polling.

Leavitt, who at 28 became the youngest person to hold the position, described the decision as bittersweet in a social media post and indicated she would continue advising the president from outside the administration. Trump expressed support for her choice while noting her value as a surrogate. The timing has drawn attention inside and outside the White House because midterm elections historically pose difficulties for the party in power, and current polling shows widespread voter dissatisfaction tied to rising costs and the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The search for a successor has already surfaced internal discussions. Sources familiar with the deliberations have identified CNN contributor Scott Jennings as a leading candidate. Jennings, a former aide in the George W. Bush administration and longtime adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell, has appeared regularly on the network as a Trump supporter. He has also drawn notice for heated on-air exchanges, including the use of strong language directed at colleagues, and for comments made off camera that some associates have described as critical of the president.

Leavitt’s tenure included frequent clashes with reporters over administration policy, particularly its handling of the Iran conflict. She defended Trump’s statements that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if certain conditions were not met, arguing that the rhetoric contributed to limited diplomatic openings such as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Critics, however, viewed those remarks as inflammatory and noted that they drew international condemnation.

Her departure leaves the communications operation without its most visible daily face just as Republicans prepare for what could be a difficult electoral cycle. The administration has not yet named a replacement, and questions remain about how any new press secretary will manage an environment in which the president’s standing with the public has deteriorated sharply. Leavitt had been expected to play a central role in shaping the message heading into the fall, and her absence will require others to fill that gap at short notice.

The White House has not detailed how it intends to adjust its briefing schedule or public messaging in the interim. Several senior officials are said to be weighing in on the choice of successor, with an emphasis on finding someone who can maintain the aggressive posture Leavitt often displayed toward the press. Whether Jennings or another figure ultimately takes the post, the selection will be watched closely as an indicator of how the administration plans to navigate the months ahead.