Karoline Leavitt has announced that she is leaving the role of White House press secretary to spend more time with her children. But could there be another reason? A new video showing Leavitt and President Donald Trump arguing just hours before the news became public sparks speculation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to leave her role at the end of August.
President Donald Trump shared the news on social media Wednesday, saying Leavitt is stepping down to spend more time with her “beautiful young children and family.”
The announcement comes less than a month after the 29-year-old returned from maternity leave following the birth of her second child in May.
Leavitt, who at the age of 27 became the youngest White House press secretary in history, later shared a statement on social media.
She said the role as White House press secretary has been “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.”
Karoline Leavitt steps down as White House press secretary
She thanked Donald Trump for the opportunity to work in his administration and pointed out that her two children are the reason she is living. Balancing both being a mother and having a stressful job has been “rewarding yet challenging,” she added.
“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I 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 — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” Leavitt wrote.
While Donald Trump praised Karoline Leavitt for her work, saying that her decision to leave is one that he “totally understand and respect,” it appears as if the president and the press secretary might have ended it on a bad note.
‘Tense’ talk between Karoline Leavitt and Trump hours before she quit
A leaked video of Leavitt with Donald Trump, shot just hours before her resignation, is raising new questions.
In the footage, Leavitt appears to be involved in a tense exchange with Donald Trump and his political aide, Natalie Harp, after boarding Marine One.
Leavitt is seen sitting across from Trump, and at one point, she appears to speak directly to Harp before yawning and pointing in her direction.
A tense exchange between Karoline Leavitt and Natalie Harp and Donald Trump on Marine One last night.
Today, Karoline Leavitt was fired. pic.twitter.com/UBA7j4ApN7
— Evan (@daviddunn177) August 13, 2026
Moreover, both Karoline Leavitt and Natalie Harp are seen looking at their phones during the exchange. The video quickly spread online, with some viewers claiming that Leavitt appeared uncomfortable or worried.
One user who posted the clip on X wrote, “In a LEAKED video from last night, she looks visibly isolated during a tense Marine One exchange with Trump and another woman. Hours later, she’s out. Is the WH covering up something?”
Speculations on social media
“A tense exchange between Karoline Leavitt and Natalie Harp and Donald Trump on Marine One last night. Today, Karoline Leavitt was fired,” a second claimed.
A third added, “Karoline Leavitt seen looking visibly worried. Unaware the camera is recording. She urgently gets on her phone after the signal. Then today she is out. What is really happening?”
As of now, it is unknown whether the conversation had anything to do with Leavitt’s decision to step down.
