Karoline Leavitt’s decision to leave the White House comes after a difficult stretch behind the scenes. Her departure was announced just weeks after she returned from maternity leave. Now, a report is shedding light on the pressure she allegedly faced before making her decision.
Karoline Leavitt strongly weighed quitting after Trump repeatedly called her during maternity leave
According to RadarOnline, Leavitt considered leaving her role as White House press secretary while she was on maternity leave. The report cited sources who claimed President Donald Trump repeatedly contacted her and asked when she planned to return.
Leavitt, 28, welcomed her second child, Viviana, in May. She then took several weeks away from the White House to recover and spend time with her family. A source close to Leavitt told the Daily Mail that she was “strongly weighing” whether to quit during that period. The source also claimed Trump frequently asked when she would return.
Another insider described the White House press secretary role as highly stressful, especially for someone raising young children. “She never got any sleep, and she didn’t want her performance to slip either,” the insider said.
The report also claimed Trump wanted Leavitt to stay because he trusted her and valued her role within his administration. However, Leavitt ultimately announced her departure Wednesday, Aug. 12. Trump confirmed the decision in a Truth Social post, saying she would leave the press secretary position at the end of August.
Trump praised Leavitt’s work and said she would continue serving as one of his top outside advisers. He also said she would remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as the administration prepares for the midterm elections.
Leavitt explained her decision in a lengthy statement shared on X. She said serving as press secretary had been “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.”
Still, motherhood changed her perspective. Leavitt said returning to the White House after giving birth made her realize she could not be the best mother to her two young children. She noted that she could not balance parenting with the “constant time, energy, and attention” required by the job.
She thanked Trump, first lady Melania Trump, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and her colleagues for their support. Leavitt also made clear that leaving the White House does not mean leaving politics. She said Trump asked her to continue as a top outside adviser and vowed to remain an advocate for his administration and the Republican Party.
The reported maternity-leave pressure adds another layer to her decision. Still, the available accounts do not establish that Trump’s calls directly caused her resignation.
TELL US: DO YOU THINK KAROLINE LEAVITT MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BY LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROLE?
