Press secretary to leave White House to focus on motherhood

The 28-year-old White House press secretary planned to step down from her role at the end of August to spend more time with her family, President Donald Trump said Wednesday. He described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and a leader in the White House. She will continue working with Trump as a top outside adviser and influential voice in the Republican Party, according to the president. Trump fully understood and respected her decision, he added.

What has she said about her leaving? Leavitt released a long statement minutes after the president and characterized her leaving as bittersweet. Working the highly demanding job as a young mother was both extremely rewarding and extremely difficult, she wrote. Leavitt couldn't be the mother her children deserved while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House press secretary, she continued. She has a 2-year-old son and a 3-month-old daughter with her 60-year-old husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio.

She thanked Trump for entrusting her with the role for over a year and a half, which she described as an honor and adventure of a lifetime. Leavitt also confirmed that Trump asked her to serve as a top adviser outside the White House, and insisted that she would always remain a vocal advocate for the GOP and the Make America Great Again movement.