Karoline Leavitt Stepping Down As White House Press Secretary

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday afternoon that Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary.

Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said.

Leavitt took maternity leave in April, prompting changes to how press briefings will be handled.

Leavitt gave birth to her second child, a baby girl, a month ago.

In March, it was reported that Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly was widely viewed as a leading internal candidate to step into Leavitt’s role.

She joined the White House in January after serving in senior communications roles at the Republican National Committee and in the House of Representatives, according to a Saturday report.

Kelly also serves as a special assistant to Donald Trump, a role noted on her social media profile and one that places her in close proximity to senior decision-making within the administration.

Her background extends beyond government and political communications.

In 2019, Kelly was crowned Miss State Fair of Virginia, a title she used to promote civic engagement among young Americans.

“In today’s polarized political climate, it is our job to step up to the plate and work to ensure the government we receive is a good one,” she told the Fairfax Times.

“It is my goal as Miss State Fair of Virginia to show young people that, contrary to what they might believe, we do have a voice and it’s about time we used it,” Kelly, a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama, added.

Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers was also viewed as a potential option. A graduate of Clemson University, she joined the White House at the start of Donald Trump’s second term after working for nearly two years at the Republican National Committee.

Rogers has been seen working closely with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, including appearances in the Oval Office, and maintains an active social media presence documenting her role in the administration.

Regional Press Secretary Liz Huston represents another potential candidate. An Indiana University graduate, she joined the administration from StateRAMP, a cybersecurity organization where she worked as a program manager following an internship.

This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.

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