White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her administration post at the end of August, but she is not leaving President Donald Trump’s political operation, announcing that she will join the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc.
Leavitt revealed her plans while speaking with reporters outside Air Force One on Friday evening, saying that her next job will be with MAGA Inc., the powerful political organization supporting Trump and Republican candidates.
Her departure from the White House had already been announced, with Leavitt saying she wanted more time with her young and growing family. Her final day as press secretary is expected to come at the end of August.
Leavitt did not disclose what position she will hold at MAGA Inc. The move, however, marks a return to familiar territory: She previously served as the organization’s spokesperson before moving to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
“You guys will still see me all the time,” she told reporters.
MAGA Inc., which is closely aligned with Trump and the Republican Party, has reportedly amassed more than $350 million as Republicans prepare for the November midterm elections, according to The Hill.
Leavitt said Friday’s trip aboard Air Force One would also mark her final official flight in her role as White House press secretary. She accompanied Trump to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the president was scheduled to appear at a campaign rally for Sen. Darline Graham, a Republican seeking a full term in the seat previously held by her late brother.
The outgoing press secretary and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, have two preschool-age children. Their son was born in July 2024, while their daughter was born in May of this year. Riccio is a New Hampshire real estate developer and investor whose holdings include both commercial and residential properties.
Trump has made clear that Leavitt’s departure from the press secretary’s podium will not end her role in his broader political circle. Following her announcement, the president said she would remain involved with the White House as one of his “top advisers” and would continue to be an “influential voice within the Republican Party.” Leavitt similarly said that leaving the administration would not end her “fight” against the Democratic Party.
The White House has not yet announced who will succeed Leavitt. She returned from maternity leave in mid-July and decided shortly afterward that she would permanently step away from the press secretary position.
Trump has acknowledged intense interest in the job, indicating that numerous candidates are being considered and that selecting Leavitt’s successor will not be an easy decision.
Among the names reportedly being considered are CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings and Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
“I will tell you this, and Karoline will tell you this,” Trump told reporters Friday, “I have never seen so many job applications in my life.”
Leavitt made history when she became White House press secretary at age 27 at the beginning of Trump’s second administration, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position. During her tenure, she developed a reputation for aggressively defending the administration and readily sparring with veteran members of the White House press corps.
{Matzav.com}
