Trump Pressured Karoline Leavitt to End Maternity Leave; She Returned to Work Before Quitting

Leavitt, 28, returned to the White House briefing room on July 16, only weeks after welcoming her second child in May. However, sources cited by the Daily Mail said she had already been weighing her departure while on maternity leave.

Leavitt said the decision followed an intensely demanding period of trying to balance her responsibilities as a mother with one of the White House’s most high-pressure jobs.

In a statement announcing her departure, she said becoming a mother again while serving as press secretary had been both rewarding and challenging. After returning to work, she said she realised she could not give her two young children the time, energy and attention they deserved while meeting the demands of the position.

Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, have two children — a two-year-old son and a daughter born in May.

According to people familiar with the situation, Trump remained in contact with Leavitt during her maternity leave and repeatedly asked when she would return.

Sources told the Daily Mail that Trump made efforts to persuade her to remain in the role because he trusted her and valued her position within his inner circle.

But her return reportedly highlighted how difficult it was to combine the job with caring for two young children. One source said Leavitt experienced severe burnout, struggled with sleep and was determined not to let her performance suffer.

Another insider described the press secretary’s role as a “thankless job” and said Leavitt had been trying to determine how to leave with Trump’s approval.

Leavitt’s return to the White House briefing room did not resolve her concerns. Sources said she began seriously reconsidering the decision almost immediately after returning to work.

People familiar with the matter reportedly said she had been discussing the possibility of stepping down privately for around two months and was looking for an appropriate way to make the decision.

Trump was said to be particularly reluctant to lose her because of the trust he had developed in his young press secretary.

Following news of her resignation, Trump praised Leavitt and said he understood and respected her decision.

He described her as one of his “most trusted aides” and said she would continue to play a role in his political orbit as an outside adviser.

Trump also praised her performance in the administration, calling it “phenomenal”. The White House said Leavitt would dedicate more time to her family while continuing to advise the president and remain active in Republican politics.

Leavitt became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary and quickly became a prominent defender of the Trump administration.

Her departure comes ahead of the November midterm elections, as the administration faces several political challenges and seeks to maintain its momentum heading into the campaign season.