White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaves as Trump weighs replacement

Karoline Leavitt completed her final day as White House press secretary on Thursday, August 27, 2026, leaving the White House communications operation without a publicly announced successor.

The White House confirmed the departure in a statement that identified Leavitt as the 36th person to hold the post and praised her tenure in strongly favorable terms. The administration said she was among the best press secretaries in the office’s history and highlighted her defense of President Donald Trump and his agenda.

Those assessments came from the administration. The immediate public-interest question is how the White House will manage its communications operation while Trump considers who will take over one of the government’s most visible leadership roles.

Why Leavitt left

Leavitt announced earlier in August that she would leave after returning to the White House following maternity leave for the birth of her daughter, Viviana, in May. She said she wanted to spend more time with her young family and concluded that she could not give her two children the attention they deserved while meeting the demands of the press secretary’s job.

Associated Press reporting described the decision as bittersweet. Trump said he understood and respected her choice and said Leavitt would remain an outside adviser and an influential voice in the Republican Party as the administration works toward the 2026 midterm elections.

The White House and independent reporting describe the departure as Leavitt’s decision, not a firing or removal. Although the initial announcement referred to leaving at the end of August, the White House said August 27 was her final day.

Trump has discussed applicants but made no appointment

When Leavitt’s departure was first disclosed, Trump had not outlined plans for a replacement, according to AP. During a later presidential trip, he said he had received many applications and spoke favorably about Scott Jennings, a conservative CNN commentator whose name had been discussed as a possible candidate.

Trump’s comment was not an appointment announcement. The White House has not said that Jennings, or any other applicant, has been selected.

The search comes as the administration approaches the 2026 midterm election cycle. The press secretary represents the White House to reporters, answers questions about presidential decisions and helps coordinate the administration’s public message during briefings, travel and major political moments.

What to watch next

The next development will be whether the White House names an interim press secretary or moves directly to a permanent replacement. Reporters will also be watching who handles briefings, who speaks for the administration during presidential travel and whether the communications team changes its balance between the formal briefing room and conservative media appearances.

AP reported that Leavitt expected to remain active around Trump and Republican politics. She said she planned to return for Trump’s trip to Dallas in September for a Republican midterm convention and indicated that she would work for MAGA Inc., although she did not specify her role.

That political involvement would be separate from her formal White House position. For now, the unresolved issue is who will fill the vacancy and whether Trump uses the transition to change the administration’s approach to press briefings and public communications.

Sources

• The White House: Karoline Leavitt’s final day as press secretary
• Associated Press: Leavitt to leave the Trump administration