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After taking maternity leave, Leavitt returned to her White House responsibilities before ultimately deciding to leave the position in August 2026. Her departure was attributed to a desire to devote more time to her family following the birth of her daughter, bringing an end to approximately 19 months as the administration's chief public spokesperson.

The decision represented a significant change for the White House communications team, which had relied on Leavitt to defend the president's policies and serve as a familiar public representative. Her departure also raised questions about who would assume the position and whether the administration would maintain the same aggressive approach toward media briefings.