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Ongoing story / Karoline Leavitt

Karoline Leavitt's exit as White House press secretary and the search to replace her

Overview · reviewed November 12, 2026

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, left the role in August 2026 after returning from maternity leave in July, saying she wanted more time with her two young children.[1][2][3] She announced plans to work for President Donald Trump's , MAGA Inc., and Fox News later announced that she would become an on-air contributor beginning November 1.[4][5] Her successor, conservative commentator Katie Zacharia, faced questions about her legal background, and reports on October 16 said she was leaving after a five-day tenure.[6][7] In November Trump announced that he had offered the job to UFC chief executive Dana White, then said a day later that he had been joking, and the post remained vacant.[8]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

She announced plans to work for President Donald Trump's , MAGA Inc., and Fox News later announced that she would become an on-air contributor beginning November 1.[4][5] Her successor, conservative commentator Katie Zacharia, faced questions about her legal background, and reports on October 16 said she was leaving after a five-day tenure.[6][7] In November Trump announced that he had offered the job to UFC chief executive Dana White, then said a day later that he had been joking, and the post remained vacant.[8]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2025-12-22 (UTC): 14%, 19 of 139 tracked outlets (3 left, 9 center, 7 right)Week of 2025-12-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-20 (UTC): 3%, 5 of 157 tracked outlets (0 left, 0 center, 5 right)Week of 2026-04-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-04 (UTC): 5%, 9 of 175 tracked outlets (1 left, 4 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-05-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-13 (UTC): 2%, 10 of 559 tracked outlets (0 left, 8 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-07-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-10 (UTC): 23%, 124 of 545 tracked outlets (29 left, 53 center, 42 right)Week of 2026-08-17 (UTC): 4%, 19 of 464 tracked outlets (1 left, 11 center, 7 right)Week of 2026-08-24 (UTC): 6%, 27 of 466 tracked outlets (0 left, 18 center, 9 right)Week of 2026-08-31 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-05 (UTC): 17%, 81 of 479 tracked outlets (24 left, 36 center, 21 right)Week of 2026-10-12 (UTC): 25%, 117 of 476 tracked outlets (38 left, 51 center, 28 right)Week of 2026-10-19 (UTC): 4%, 18 of 479 tracked outlets (5 left, 4 center, 9 right)Week of 2026-10-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-02 (UTC): 13%, 62 of 471 tracked outlets (19 left, 28 center, 15 right)Week of 2026-11-09 (UTC): 10%, 49 of 471 tracked outlets (14 left, 20 center, 15 right), so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings.We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (12 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 9, 2026 (so far)14201549 of 47110%
Nov 2, 202619281562 of 47113%
Oct 19, 202654918 of 4794%
Oct 12, 2026385128117 of 47625%
Oct 5, 202624362181 of 47917%
Aug 24, 2026018927 of 4666%
Aug 17, 2026111719 of 4644%
Aug 10, 2026295342124 of 54523%
Jul 13, 202608210 of 5592%
May 4, 20261449 of 1755%
Apr 20, 20260055 of 1573%
Dec 22, 202539719 of 13914%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 9, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Above The Law

    A Press Secretary Comeback? Katie Zacharia May Be Ready For Her Close-Up

Background

Leavitt prepared for maternity leave in late April 2026, holding a final press gaggle before her absence while other Trump administration officials were expected to handle briefings.[9] In early May, she announced the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana.[10] On July 16, she gave her first full briefing since going on leave, opening with, "Let's get back to work."[3]

Read the full background (4 more paragraphs)

On August 12, Leavitt announced that she would leave at the end of the month to spend time with her children, and Trump also announced her departure.[2] CNN subsequently reported that Trump was considering having Cabinet officials take turns handling briefings for an indefinite period after she left.[11] His former personal attorney Alina Habba said she was "not in the running" to replace her.[12] CNN reported that its commentator Scott Jennings was an early favorite, while stressing that the selection process was far from complete. Trump called Jennings a "good option."[13]

Later in August, Leavitt said she would work for MAGA Inc. after leaving the White House.[4] On her final day, August 27, she said there was "definitely a list" of potential successors but that no decision had been made.[14] Asked about advice for her successor, she said it was important to understand that Trump is his "own best spokesperson."[1] ABC's "The View" invited her to appear as a guest. The invitation was reported as a guest booking, rather than an agreement to join its panel.[15]

On October 5, Fox News announced that Leavitt would join as an on-air contributor starting November 1.[5] On October 9, a White House official confirmed to The Daily Signal that Trump had offered the press secretary job to Zacharia.[6] Coverage of her first briefing on October 13 focused on the few questions she took, and subsequent reporting questioned claims about her legal background.[6] On October 16, reports said she was leaving the position, and accounts described her tenure as lasting five days.[7] Leavitt then said she was helping Trump choose the next press secretary, a "tough job" that she said needed someone who could "put up a fight."[16]

On November 7, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior," had been offered the job of press secretary.[8] Reaction to the announcement was swift,[17] and the next day Trump said he "was only kidding," describing it as "just a little fun" to picture White in the briefing room. The two were still set to meet, but the job remained vacant.[8] Days later, reports said Zacharia was trying to win her old job back.[18]

Supporting stories (18)
  1. Karoline Leavitt says Thursday was final day as White House Press Secretary
  2. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is Leaving the White House
  3. ‘Let’s get back to work’: Karoline Leavitt returns to the briefing room podium for the first time since maternity leave
  4. Karoline Leavitt reveals next role after leaving White House press secretary post
  5. Karoline Leavitt joining Fox News
  6. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefing
  7. Katie Zacharia is ousted after 5 days as White House press secretary
  8. President Trump holds White House press briefing with Dana White
  9. Press Secy Karoline Leavitt Goes on Maternity Leave, Legacy Media Act Like They're the Ones Having a Baby
  10. Karoline Leavitt announces birth of baby girl
  11. Trump weighs a plan for press briefings when Leavitt leaves, sources say
  12. Alina Habba says she's 'not in the running' to replace Leavitt
  13. Scott Jennings emerges as early favorite to replace Karoline Leavitt but process is just beginning
  14. Leavitt talks about what's next for her on last day at White House
  15. ABC’s ‘The View’ invites Karoline Leavitt to appear as a guest
  16. Leavitt Delivers Blunt Verdict on Zacharia’s Brief Press Secretary Stint
  17. Reaction fast, furious as Trump offers Dana White press secretary
  18. Katie Zacharia auditioning again for White House press secretary — despite being fired after 5 days: sources

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 31 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Katie Zacharia auditioning again for White House press secretary — despite being fired after 5 days: sourcesHeadline from New York Post · 4 outlets
  2. Reaction fast, furious as Trump offers Dana White press secretaryHeadline from AL.com · 5 outlets
  3. President Trump holds White House press briefing with Dana WhiteHeadline from Mytwintiers · 86 outlets

October 2026

  1. Leavitt Delivers Blunt Verdict on Zacharia’s Brief Press Secretary StintHeadline from Newsweek · 11 outlets
  2. Politico corrects Susie Wiles-Katie Zacharia article after White House threatens ‘consequences’Headline from New York Post · 8 outlets
  3. What happened to Trump’s short-lived press secretary, Katie Zacharia?Headline from The Week · 7 outlets
  4. Capehart and Continetti on the press secretary's quick exitHeadline from Crosscut · 2 outlets
  5. Anthony Scaramucci Reacts To Katie Zacharia’s White House Tenure Being Shorter Than His: “Records Are Made To Be Broken”Headline from Deadline · 4 outlets
  6. Texts Show Zacharia Sought Interview with Hannity, Debunking Politico's Claim Wiles Set It UpHeadline from Breitbart News · 3 outlets
  7. China invites Katie Zacharia to visit again after she claims nation lacks ‘proper toilets’Headline from Local News 8 · 11 outlets
  8. Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia breaks silence after getting torchedHeadline from NJ.com / Star-Ledger · 3 outlets
  9. Katie Zacharia stepped to the lectern for the first time. It was a bumpy ride.Headline from Boston · 2 outlets
  10. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short 1st briefingHeadline from Triblive · 9 outlets
  11. Katie Zacharia is ousted after 5 days as White House press secretaryHeadline from The Boston Globe · 113 outlets
  12. White House has found replacement for Karoline Leavitt as press secretaryHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  13. Ticker: Former WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Joins Fox NewsHeadline from Adweek · 2 outlets
  14. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defends her legal background and short first briefingHeadline from KAAL Rochester · 105 outlets
  15. Karoline Leavitt’s post-White House gig is revealed — here’s her reactionHeadline from MLive · 3 outlets
  16. Karoline Leavitt joining Fox NewsHeadline from The Hill · 58 outlets

August 2026

  1. ABC’s ‘The View’ invites Karoline Leavitt to appear as a guestHeadline from KESQ Palm Springs · 11 outlets
  2. Karoline Leavitt says Thursday was final day as White House Press SecretaryHeadline from KYMA Yuma · 10 outlets
  3. Leavitt talks about what's next for her on last day at White HouseHeadline from The Hill · 6 outlets
  4. Karoline Leavitt reveals next role after leaving White House press secretary postHeadline from Fox News · 9 outlets
  5. Scott Jennings emerges as early favorite to replace Karoline Leavitt but process is just beginningHeadline from KION Central Coast · 12 outlets
  6. Alina Habba says she's 'not in the running' to replace LeavittHeadline from The Hill · 7 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →