Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has responded to questions about her decision to leave Donald Trump's administration while preparing to begin a new career at Fox News.
The 29-year-old stepped down from her government position in August 2026, following the birth of her second child earlier in the year.
Her departure attracted considerable attention because she had become one of the most prominent public representatives of Trump's second administration.
However, questions resurfaced after Fox News announced that Leavitt would be joining the network as an on-air political contributor in November.
Some social media users questioned why she had resigned from the White House only to accept another high-profile position.
Now, Leavitt has addressed the criticism directly, explaining the difference between her former responsibilities and her new career.
Why did Karoline Leavitt really leave the White House?
Karoline Leavitt says she left her position as White House press secretary because the demanding workload made it difficult to spend time with her two young children.
During an Instagram question-and-answer session in October, Leavitt revealed that she had routinely worked more than 60 hours a week while serving in the Trump administration.
She explained that her responsibilities also involved frequent international travel and being available to respond to developments at virtually any time.
Responding to a follower who questioned her decision to leave the White House while continuing to appear on television, Leavitt wrote:
"As press sec I was working in the office 60+ hours a week, traveling the world and always on call, 24/7."
She went on to explain that her circumstances had changed considerably since leaving government.
Leavitt said she could now spend time at home with her children while making occasional television appearances.
She rejected the suggestion that the two jobs involved comparable demands.
Her comments offered a more detailed explanation of the work-life balance concerns that had influenced her resignation.
What did Karoline Leavitt say to the person questioning her?
Leavitt's response came after an Instagram follower asked why she had left her government position if she intended to continue working in television.
The former press secretary explained that being an on-air contributor was fundamentally different from holding a senior communications position in the White House.
She pointed to the extensive hours, international travel and constant availability required by her previous role.
By comparison, her new arrangement allows her to work in television while spending substantially more time with her family.
Leavitt ended her response by emphasising that the two situations were not equivalent.
Her direct answer attracted attention because it provided a rare glimpse into the personal demands of working at the centre of a presidential administration.
What is Karoline Leavitt's new job?
Leavitt is preparing to join Fox News as an on-air contributor on November 1, 2026.
The appointment was announced earlier in October, with the network confirming that she would provide political commentary across its news and opinion programmes.
Her new responsibilities will involve discussing political developments and drawing on her experience working in the White House and on Trump's presidential campaign.
Unlike her previous role, she will not be responsible for delivering official government briefings or representing the administration during breaking news events.
Fox News has not announced that Leavitt will host a permanent programme of her own.
Instead, she is expected to appear as a contributor across multiple shows.
The arrangement represents a significant change from the daily responsibilities of serving as White House press secretary.
How demanding is the White House press secretary role?
The White House press secretary is one of the most visible communications positions in the United States government.
The role involves representing the president's administration, responding to questions from journalists and explaining government policies to the public.
Press secretaries regularly conduct briefings, prepare statements and coordinate with other senior officials.
They may also accompany the president on domestic and international trips.
Because major political developments can occur at any time, the position frequently requires availability outside normal working hours.
Leavitt's account suggests that these responsibilities resulted in an especially demanding schedule during her tenure.
Her description of working more than 60 hours a week highlights the challenge of balancing such a position with raising young children.
When did Karoline Leavitt leave the White House?
Leavitt resigned from her position at the end of August 2026.
Her departure came shortly after she returned from maternity leave following the birth of her daughter, Viviana, in May.
According to Geo News, she had taken almost three months of maternity leave before returning to work in July.
However, she subsequently decided that continuing in the position would make it difficult to prioritise her family.
At the time, Leavitt described leaving the White House as a difficult decision.
She also spoke positively about her experience serving the president and indicated that she intended to remain involved in politics.
Did Donald Trump contact Leavitt during her maternity leave?
According to reporting cited by Geo News, Trump repeatedly contacted Leavitt during her maternity leave to ask when she would return to work.
The allegation was attributed to The Daily Beast.
However, the extent of those communications and whether they influenced her decision to resign have not been independently established in the material reported.
Leavitt has publicly emphasised the demanding nature of the job and her desire to spend more time with her children.
She has not described her departure as the result of a falling-out with the president.
What has Karoline Leavitt said about Donald Trump?
Despite leaving the administration, Leavitt has continued to speak positively about Trump.
During the same Instagram question-and-answer session, she reportedly described him as the best boss she had worked for.
She also indicated that the president remained supportive of her following her departure.
Her comments suggest that she continues to maintain a positive professional relationship with Trump.
Leavitt has also remained involved in Republican political discussions and has continued defending the administration's positions publicly.
Her decision to leave government therefore does not necessarily signal a change in her political views or affiliations.
What did Trump say when Leavitt resigned?
When Leavitt announced her resignation in August, Trump publicly supported her decision.
In a post on Truth Social, he explained that she wanted to spend more time with her children and family.
The president indicated that he understood and respected her decision.
Leavitt also reflected positively on her time in the administration, describing her experience as an important chapter in her career.
She made clear that she intended to continue participating in American political life outside the White House.
Who replaced Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary?
Following Leavitt's resignation, conservative commentator Katie Zacharia was appointed as her successor, according to Geo News.
Zacharia's appointment subsequently attracted scrutiny, including questions surrounding her professional background and legal credentials.
The White House press secretary role remains central to the administration's public communications.
Although Leavitt is no longer responsible for those duties, her experience in the position is expected to feature in her future television commentary.
Who is Karoline Leavitt's husband?
Leavitt is married to businessman and real estate developer Nicholas Riccio.
The couple have two children, a son named Niko and a daughter named Viviana.
Leavitt welcomed her second child in May 2026, shortly before taking maternity leave from the White House.
Her family circumstances became a major part of her explanation for resigning.
She has spoken about wanting to be more present during her children's early years.
Her recent Instagram comments reinforced that position, explaining that her new professional arrangement allows her to spend more time at home.
How old was Karoline Leavitt when she became press secretary?
Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in American history when she took office in January 2025.
She was 27 at the time of her appointment.
Before joining the administration, she had worked in political communications and served as national press secretary for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
She had also previously worked in Trump's first administration and for Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Her rapid rise through Republican politics made her a prominent figure within the administration.
By the time she stepped down in August 2026, she had become widely recognised for her appearances at White House press briefings.
Will Karoline Leavitt still support Trump?
Leavitt has indicated that she intends to remain politically active despite leaving her government position.
She has continued expressing support for Trump and the Republican Party.
Her upcoming Fox News role will allow her to discuss national politics from outside the administration.
However, she will be speaking as a media contributor rather than an official government spokesperson.
That distinction means her television appearances will not carry the same formal responsibilities as White House press briefings.
What happens next for Karoline Leavitt?
Leavitt is scheduled to begin her new role at Fox News on November 1, just two days before the US midterm elections.
Her appointment comes at a significant moment in American politics, with control of Congress at stake.
The former press secretary is expected to draw upon her experience inside the Trump administration when discussing political developments.
However, she has made clear that her decision to leave the White House was influenced by the personal demands of the position.
For Leavitt, the key difference is that her new career offers the opportunity to remain involved in political commentary without the constant schedule she experienced while working for the president.
Her recent explanation suggests that she views the change as a way to continue her professional career while prioritising time with her family.
Source: Geo News, October 17, 2026, reporting on Karoline Leavitt's Instagram question-and-answer session.
