Trump says Karoline Leavitt resigning as White House press secretary

Leavitt, who has served as White House press secretary since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, has two young children with her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio.

She gave birth to her daughter, Viviana, on May 1, days after going on maternity leave.

Leavitt returned to the White House for a press briefing on July 16.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Leavitt said, “Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least.”

“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” she wrote.

Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary ever.

Trump had four White House press secretaries during his first term, from January 2017 to January 2021.

— CNBC’s Ryan Ruggiero contributed to this article

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/12/trump-white-house-karoline-leavitt-resigning-.html