The sudden departure of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt “came as a surprise,” according to CNN’s White House correspondent.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said that Leavitt will be one of his top outside advisers, while Leavitt explained that she was leaving to take care of her children, as she recently gave birth to a daughter on May 1. CNN White House Correspondent Alayna Treene explained that her decision caught people off guard and that Trump asked her to stay on.
“This came as a surprise to many people,” Treene said. “And that’s partly because this role, particularly under President Donald Trump, had been a tough one to fill.”
Treene pointed out that Leavitt wasn’t just a press secretary but one of Trump’s “closest advisers.” Trump noted as much in his post announcing Leavitt’s departure, Treene added.
“She is one of the closest advisers that he has,” Treene said. “She’s part of that very small group of really loyal people who have been with the president on the 2024 campaign trail.”
Leavitt also worked for Trump during his first term, Treene added, explaining that she’s gained Trump’s trust over the years.
Leavitt “has continued to be one of those people that goes into sensitive meetings as one of the few people that actually knows what is going on at high levels in the West Wing,” Treene said. “So it’s a loss for the president.”
Treene also pointed out that the timing of her departure from the White House “is pretty crucial” because she’s taking off just a few months before the midterms.
“The White House is losing their chief messenger just three months before the midterm elections,” Treene explained.
Digging into the reasoning for the surprising departure, Treene pointed out that Leavitt only took a month of maternity leave before she returned to her White House job.
“I have been speaking with some of my sources. When she was on maternity leave, the president, even then, was still frequently calling her and at times was asking when she was going to come back,” Treene said. “That just highlights the demanding role of the press secretary.”
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