Karoline Leavitt Resigns as White House Press Secretary Amid Reports of Frequent Calls from Trump During Maternity Leave

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest individual to ever hold the position of White House Press Secretary, announced her resignation from the post on Wednesday. Leavitt, 28, attributed her departure to the significant demands of the role, stating in an X post that she "cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary." This decision comes as Leavitt, who also has a two-year-old son, gave birth to her second child in May and had returned to work just eleven weeks later. Federal law in the United States provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave, a policy that places the U.S. among the lowest in terms of parental support compared to other high-income nations. Sources speaking to CNN indicated that President Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Leavitt during her maternity leave, reportedly inquiring about her return to the office. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fast Company regarding these reports. Leavitt's resignation occurs within a larger context of a significant exodus of women from the workforce; since January, an estimated 845,000 women have left their jobs, with July alone seeing a net loss in female employment. During Donald Trump's previous presidency, the role of White House Press Secretary experienced considerable turnover, with four individuals serving in the position during his first term. This contrasts with President Joe Biden, who had two press secretaries, and President Barack Obama, who had three over his two terms. In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump acknowledged Leavitt's departure, stating she would now serve as "one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party," particularly in the lead-up to midterm elections. This announcement follows Leavitt's recent appearance on Fox News with Lara Trump, where she expressed gratitude for the President's administration, stating, "I’m very grateful to the president for empowering so many working mothers and parents." She had also remarked on her personal balancing act, noting, "I only have time for my children and my husband and work. Everything is on the back burner, but I wouldn’t have it any other way."