Karoline Leavitt is leaving her job as White House press secretary — but she’s not going far.
The youngest press secretary in White House history announced her next career move Friday evening outside Air Force One: she’s joining MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s Super PAC, according to reports.
The move represents a significant shift in the Trump administration’s communications structure, coming just months into the president’s second term. Press secretaries typically serve for longer tenures, making Leavitt’s departure notable for its timing. However, her transition to MAGA Inc. suggests she will remain deeply embedded in Trump’s political operation, maintaining influence over messaging and strategy as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Leavitt told reporters she’ll step down from her White House position at the end of August. She previously said she wants to spend more time with her young, growing family.
“You guys will still see me all the time.”
Her comment indicates that while her official role is changing, her visibility in Trump’s political universe will remain high. The revolving door between White House positions and political action committees is well-established in Washington, though the speed of this particular transition is unusual given her brief tenure in the press secretary role.
Leavitt didn’t reveal her exact title with MAGA Inc., though she previously served as spokesperson for the organization before joining Trump’s 2024 campaign.
That previous experience with the Super PAC means she’s returning to familiar territory and will likely assume a senior communications or strategic role. Her trajectory from MAGA Inc. to the campaign trail to the White House and back to the Super PAC illustrates the interconnected nature of Trump’s political apparatus, where personnel frequently move between official government roles and outside political organizations.
The Trump-aligned Super PAC has reportedly accumulated more than $350 million in campaign funds ahead of November’s midterms.
This substantial war chest positions MAGA Inc. as one of the most well-funded political organizations heading into the crucial midterm cycle. Super PACs like MAGA Inc. can raise unlimited funds from donors and play a pivotal role in supporting candidates aligned with the president’s agenda. Leavitt’s communications expertise will be valuable in determining how those resources are deployed and messaged to voters.
Friday evening’s flight marked Leavitt’s last official outing as press secretary. She boarded Air Force One for a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a Trump rally supporting Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), who is running for a full term for her late brother’s seat.
The symbolic nature of her final trip — to a campaign-style political rally rather than an official government event — underscores the political dimensions of her role and foreshadows her continued involvement in electoral politics.
Leavitt and her husband Nicholas Riccio have two preschool children — a son born in July 2024 and a daughter born in May of this year. Riccio is a New Hampshire real estate developer and investor with a portfolio of commercial and residential properties.
The demands of the press secretary position are notoriously intense, requiring long hours, constant availability, and frequent travel. Managing two very young children while serving in one of the most high-pressure communications roles in government presented obvious logistical and personal challenges. Her new position with MAGA Inc., while still demanding, may offer more flexibility in terms of schedule and location.
After Leavitt announced her departure, Trump said she would continue working with the White House as one of his “top advisers” and be an “influential voice within the Republican Party.”
This statement suggests that despite leaving her official government position, Leavitt will maintain close coordination with the administration. Such arrangements, while raising questions about the boundaries between official and political work, are common in modern presidential politics where Super PACs function as extensions of a president’s political operation.
Leavitt herself said in her announcement that her “fight” against the Democratic Party would not end once she vacated the post.
The White House has not yet named a replacement. Among those under consideration are CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings and Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
The selection of a new press secretary will be closely watched as an indicator of Trump’s communications strategy going forward. Both potential candidates bring different strengths and connections to the role.
Trump told reporters Friday he’s been flooded with applications.
“I will tell you this, and Karoline will tell you this — I have never seen so many job applications in my life.”
Leavitt, known for her thick skin and willingness to go toe to toe with veteran journalists, took the job at the age of 27 at the start of Trump’s second administration — making her the youngest White House press secretary ever to serve.
Her youth and combative style made her a distinctive figure in the press briefing room, where she frequently sparred with reporters and defended administration policies with unwavering loyalty. Her tenure, though brief, established her as a rising star in conservative political communications.
She returned from maternity leave in mid-July before deciding to permanently leave the role. Trump signaled that he had several options for her replacement and that the choice would be difficult.
