Karoline Leavitt steps down as White House press secretary
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Washington: Karoline Leavitt has concluded her tenure as White House press secretary, ending more than 19 months as President Donald Trump’s chief spokesperson and one of the administration’s most prominent public faces.
The White House said Thursday was Leavitt’s final day in the post, but did not name a successor or provide a timeline for the appointment of the next press secretary.
Leavitt, the 36th person to serve in the role, was the youngest White House press secretary when she took charge at the beginning of Trump’s second term in January 2025.
In a farewell announcement, the White House praised her for defending Trump and his America First agenda with “command and clarity”. Trump described her as “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office”, according to the statement.
Leavitt emerged as one of the most visible figures in the Trump administration through her televised briefings and regular appearances on news programmes. Her interactions with reporters were often confrontational, particularly when she challenged reports the administration considered inaccurate or unfair.
The White House highlighted several of her sharp exchanges with journalists, including one instance in which she responded to a question by saying, “What a stupid question.”
During her tenure, Leavitt also expanded access to White House briefings for representatives of podcasts, online platforms and other new-media outlets. The move altered the traditional seating and questioning arrangements in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, where spaces have historically been allocated to established media organisations.
Leavitt had argued that the administration needed to communicate with audiences beyond conventional television networks and newspapers.
Her briefings frequently focused on immigration enforcement, the economy, trade, foreign policy and Trump’s continuing disputes with the media. She also defended the administration during controversies over federal spending cuts and immigration measures.
The White House said Leavitt had set a new standard for the role and consistently promoted the President’s agenda. However, its announcement did not include a statement from Leavitt on her exit or disclose her future plans.
It also remained unclear whether she would continue to work for Trump or take up another role within the administration.
Leavitt had earlier served as an assistant White House press secretary during Trump’s first term. She later worked as communications director for Republican Representative Elise Stefanik and unsuccessfully contested a US House seat from New Hampshire in 2022.
Trump announced her appointment as press secretary in November 2024. She succeeded Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as White House press secretary under former President Joe Biden.
(Inputs from IANS)