Washington | August 13, 2026
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person ever to hold the high-profile position, is stepping down at the end of August, President Donald Trump has announced. Leavitt said the decision was driven by her desire to spend more time with her young children and family.
The 28-year-old became one of the most prominent faces of the Trump administration, frequently defending the President and aggressively confronting his critics and the White House press corps. Trump praised her as one of his most trusted aides and said she will continue to serve as a top outside adviser and influential Republican voice.
Her departure has also attracted intense attention because it comes amid reports about a secretive decoy-flight operation during Trump's July trip to Turkey. According to reports, Trump was moved to another military aircraft following an alleged Iranian missile threat, while Air Force One continued separately with staff and members of the press aboard. Leavitt was reportedly among those on the decoy flight.
However, there is currently no evidence establishing that the decoy-flight episode caused Leavitt's resignation. The publicly stated reason remains her wish to prioritize family life following the birth of her second child. The timing has nevertheless fueled speculation and renewed scrutiny of the White House's handling of the operation.
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