Trump's Press Secretary Shake-Up

The story so far

As of August 13, 2026

A late‑summer shake‑up in the White House press operation under President Trump has put the role of press secretary in play, with Karoline Leavitt planning to depart. The job is the administration’s public voice, steering daily messaging, managing crises, and setting the tone for briefings and media access.

The White House first signaled Leavitt’s planned exit, and she later said the decision was hers, citing a desire to spend more time with her young children. The announcement caught some colleagues off guard. Leavitt, 28, the youngest to hold the post, is leaving less than a month after returning from maternity leave.

Now, Leavitt has said she will leave in three months, and the administration is concentrating on finding her successor. Names are circulating, including a leading contender described as a California native who previously worked for a governor. One prediction market moved Anna Kelly’s odds to 18 percent after the exit, underscoring how unsettled the field is as allies and staff weigh experience and loyalty for the podium.

The timing has clarified from an initial end‑of‑month suggestion to a three‑month runway, which places the handoff just ahead of the November elections. Leavitt will serve as an adviser after stepping down. There is still no official nominee, and the mechanics of an active search now explain the shifts in how the transition has been described.