Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has opened up about the demanding reality of working for Donald Trump, revealing how the high-profile position affected her personal life and influenced her decision to resign.
The 29-year-old stepped down in August 2026, just months after welcoming her second child, and has now shared new details about her experiences inside the White House.
During an Instagram question-and-answer session on October 14, Leavitt addressed questions about her departure, her family and the challenges of working so closely with the president.
She also discussed concerns about her family's safety and explained why she has chosen to keep her children's faces off social media.
What did Karoline Leavitt say about the impact of her White House job?
Leavitt revealed that her position as White House press secretary involved working more than 60 hours a week in the office, travelling internationally and remaining on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Responding to a follower who questioned why she had left the White House only to accept another media position, Leavitt explained that the two jobs involved very different commitments.
She said her former position required constant availability, while her current arrangements allowed her to spend considerably more time at home with her children.
Leavitt also revealed that she had received threats and negative attention during her time in the administration.
She said the risks associated with representing the president, particularly when discussing sensitive international issues, were something she understood came with the job.
Those experiences ultimately influenced how she approached her family's privacy and security.
Why did Leavitt leave the White House?
Leavitt announced her decision to step down in August after returning to work following the birth of her daughter, Viviana, in May.
She explained that she had struggled to reconcile the demands of the position with the responsibilities of raising two young children.
In a statement shared on X, Leavitt said she no longer believed she could give both her family and the White House role the attention they deserved.
Her decision came after she returned from maternity leave and resumed her duties as one of the administration's most prominent public representatives.
As press secretary, Leavitt was responsible for communicating the administration's policies, addressing journalists and responding to major political developments.
The position also required travelling with the president and remaining available during rapidly developing national and international events.
For Leavitt, those responsibilities became increasingly difficult to balance with motherhood.
Leavitt reveals why she keeps her children's faces off social media
One of the most personal revelations during the Instagram discussion concerned Leavitt's decision not to show her children's faces publicly.
She explained that the threats and hostility she encountered while serving as press secretary had influenced her approach to protecting her family.
Although she is proud of her children and enjoys sharing aspects of motherhood with followers, she believes keeping their identities more private is the right decision.
Leavitt also said she wants her children to have a choice about how much of their lives appears online as they grow older.
Her comments highlighted how public attention directed at political figures can extend beyond their professional responsibilities and affect their families.
Leavitt has two children with her husband, Nicholas Riccio: a son named Niko and a daughter named Viviana.
Did threats against Leavitt influence her resignation?
During the Instagram Q&A, Leavitt addressed speculation about whether a particular security incident involving presidential travel had caused her to leave the administration.
She rejected the suggestion, explaining that she understood the risks associated with travelling alongside the president.
Leavitt pointed to her previous visits to the Middle East and her experience speaking publicly about matters involving international conflict.
She acknowledged that such responsibilities could involve security concerns but denied that the rumoured incident was responsible for her departure.
Her stated reason for leaving remained the difficulty of balancing an exceptionally demanding job with her responsibilities as a mother.
What did Leavitt say about Donald Trump?
Despite describing the intense demands of her former position, Leavitt spoke positively about her relationship with Trump.
Asked whether the president was kind, she praised him and said he had continued to support her since her departure.
She also described him as humorous and suggested that the public did not always see the more personal side of his interactions with staff.
These comments reflect Leavitt's personal experience of working for Trump rather than an independent assessment of his leadership.
Trump publicly supported Leavitt's decision to leave the White House in August, acknowledging her desire to spend more time with her family.
He also indicated that she would remain involved in Republican political activities outside her former government position.
What has Leavitt said about her 32-year age gap with her husband?
Leavitt also answered questions about her marriage to real estate businessman Nicholas Riccio, who is 32 years older than her.
The couple met in 2022 while Leavitt was campaigning for Congress and married in January 2025, shortly before Trump's second inauguration.
Asked what advice she would offer women in relationships with a significant age difference, Leavitt encouraged people to make their own decisions rather than allowing outside criticism to dictate their relationships.
She described marrying Riccio as one of the best decisions of her life.
Riccio, 61, works in real estate, while Leavitt has continued to maintain a public profile through political commentary and social media.
The couple are raising their two children in New Hampshire.
What is Karoline Leavitt doing now?
Following her departure from the White House, Leavitt has continued making television appearances and participating in political discussions.
Fox News Media announced on October 5 that she had signed an agreement to join the network as a contributor.
Her new role is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
According to the network, Leavitt will provide political commentary and analysis informed by her experience working in the Trump administration.
She has explained that this arrangement will be substantially different from the demands of serving as White House press secretary.
Rather than maintaining a constant presence in Washington and travelling internationally with the president, she expects to spend more time at home while continuing selected media appearances.
Leavitt has also hinted that she is working on other projects, although she has not publicly detailed all of her future plans.
Who replaced Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary?
Following Leavitt's departure, Trump appointed conservative commentator Katie Zacharia to the position.
Zacharia previously worked for Trump Media & Technology Group and had experience in conservative political communications.
She made her first appearance as White House press secretary in October.
Leavitt publicly congratulated her successor and offered support as Zacharia prepared to take on the demanding position.
However, Zacharia's tenure proved brief, with reports on October 16 confirming that she was leaving the role after only a matter of days.
Her departure attracted further scrutiny of staffing changes within the administration ahead of the November midterm elections.
Why Leavitt's comments have attracted attention
Leavitt became the youngest person in American history to serve as White House press secretary when she took on the position in January 2025.
Her appointment attracted significant attention because of her age, political profile and prominent role defending the administration's policies.
Her latest comments have offered a different perspective on the experience, focusing on the personal sacrifices associated with the position.
Although she continues to speak positively about Trump, Leavitt has made clear that the demands of the job were difficult to reconcile with raising a young family.
She has also highlighted the security concerns that can accompany a highly visible political role, particularly when family members become subjects of public attention.
With a new television position beginning in November, Leavitt is preparing for another chapter of her career while maintaining a greater presence in her children's everyday lives.
Sources: UNILAD, October 15, 2026; Fox News, October 15, 2026; Fox News Media announcement, October 5, 2026; Leavitt's October 14 Instagram Q&A.
