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US President Donald Trump is losing one of his most trusted and prominent aides with the departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, whose resignation marks a significant change for an administration known for its combative relationship with the media.
Leavitt announced her departure on Wednesday, saying the birth of her second child, a daughter, on May 1 had made her reconsider the demands of a job that requires constant time, energy and attention.
Trump, who has repeatedly praised the 28-year-old as one of his most trusted aides, said Leavitt would continue to advise him from outside the White House.
Although Trump has never relied solely on a press secretary to communicate with the public, Leavitt played a much broader role in his second administration, according to a report by CNN.
She became one of the most recognisable voices of the Trump White House and a key figure in its increasingly confrontational approach to the Washington press corps.
Serving as Trump’s press secretary has been particularly demanding because the president frequently changes positions, announces policies without warning, and sometimes contradicts his own administration.
Trump has also long cultivated a direct relationship with the media and built his political identity around provocative statements, frequent interviews and social media posts.
His approach has allowed him to bypass traditional media and speak directly to supporters, making the role of a conventional press secretary increasingly unusual.
Leavitt nevertheless developed a distinctive role of her own.
She became a prominent defender of the administration during televised briefings, often confronting reporters rather than simply answering their questions.
Her aggressive exchanges with journalists earned her strong support among Trump’s political base and made her one of the administration’s most recognisable figures.
Leavitt’s tenure was also marked by major disputes over the White House press corps and access to the president.
Her office took greater control over the presidential press pool, including decisions about which journalists could attend events and travel aboard Air Force One.
The administration also expanded access for podcasters, conservative radio hosts, streaming services and other media personalities, a move welcomed by Trump supporters but criticised by traditional news organisations.
One of the most significant disputes involved the Associated Press, which was barred from some White House events and excluded from Air Force One after declining to adopt the administration’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico.
Critics argued that the move represented an unprecedented challenge to the traditional role of the press in holding the president accountable, while Trump supporters viewed it as a way of reducing the influence of what they considered the liberal mainstream media.
Leavitt’s televised briefings often featured lengthy defences of Trump’s record and sharp attacks on journalists, turning the sessions into political confrontations as much as opportunities to explain government policy.
The departure comes at a time of heightened concern among media organisations over access to the Trump administration.
Relations between presidents and the press have often been tense, but critics argue that Trump’s second term has pushed that conflict to new levels.
Democratic Rep James Walkinshaw said he believed Leavitt’s explanation for leaving was sincere but criticised her record as Trump’s spokesperson.
He said her tenure would be remembered for further damaging relations between the White House and the press.
Away from the cameras, however, Leavitt was often described as more accessible to journalists.
Her close relationship with Trump also gave reporters an important link to the president and his inner circle.
Her departure could therefore make it harder for journalists to understand how decisions are made inside an administration where Trump retains an unusually dominant role.
Trump’s choice of successor could determine whether Leavitt’s influence continues within the White House.
If he selects someone already close to his inner circle, the new press secretary could potentially maintain the direct access and credibility Leavitt developed with the president.
But the absence of an obvious succession plan has also raised speculation that Trump could take an even more direct role in communicating his administration’s message.
Leavitt is expected to remain influential among Trump’s supporters, and the confrontational approach she helped establish could continue to shape how future administrations deal with the press.
Her departure leaves Trump without one of the most loyal and effective public defenders of his second term, even as the president continues to dominate the political conversation through his own statements and social media presence.
