White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Resigns to Spend Time With Family
The Story
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her resignation, stating she needs to spend more time with her family. Leavitt, who has two young children, said she cannot be the best mother while dedicating the constant time, energy, and attention her job requires. Her departure is effective at the end of August. Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person to have held the position. Donald Trump described her as one of my most trusted aides. Some reports suggest her departure is due to a combination of personal and institutional factors. Leavitt's tenure has been marked by contentious moments, including clashes with journalists and affirmations of what some sources describe as falsehoods. Her exit follows that of Deputy National Security Adviser Andy Baker. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung reportedly used a slur when responding to a Daily Beast inquiry about Leavitt's departure and other West Wing staff exits. Cheung has previously used similar language when responding to reporters and politicians. Leavitt's departure comes as other White House staff have also exited, with some insiders expressing concerns about President Trump's behavior ahead of the midterm elections. The White House has not named a successor.
The Spread
What they agree on
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is resigning from her position.
- Leavitt stated her reason for leaving is to spend more time with her family.
- Leavitt has served as White House Press Secretary for 18 months.
- Donald Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides.
Where they split
- Some outlets frame Leavitt's departure as a result of personal reasons and family needs, while others suggest institutional factors and dissatisfaction with President Trump's behavior are contributing.
- The Daily Beast and Raw Story focus on White House Communications Director Steven Cheung's use of a slur in response to inquiries about Leavitt's departure and other staff exits.
- The Guardian Australia and Al Arabiya English focus on who might replace Leavitt, while The Daily Beast and Raw Story detail contentious moments from her tenure.
- RedState frames Leavitt's departure in contrast to former Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki's criticism.