White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to leave role at end of month

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of the month in a shakeup among President Donald Trump's closest aides.

(NBC)- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of the month in a shakeup among President Donald Trump’s closest aides.

Trump announced Leavitt’s departure, saying she plans to spend more time with her young children. The president said Leavitt will remain a top outside adviser to his administration.

Leavitt welcomed her second child, a baby girl, in May. She described her decision to leave the White House as “bittersweet” and has spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with the demands of the high-pressure position.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller praised Leavitt’s tenure, saying she “served this president so well, this administration so well.”

Leavitt’s relationship with the White House press corps was at times adversarial, with frequent clashes during briefings.

Her departure comes as the administration faces controversy over whether journalists aboard Air Force One were used as a decoy during Trump’s secret flight from the NATO summit in Turkey last month amid concerns about an Iranian threat.

The announcement also comes as Trump faces declining approval ratings amid frustration over the continuing war with Iran.

Trump claimed Wednesday that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, however, says the critical shipping route will remain blocked until its conditions are accepted.

The disruption is adding to concerns about prices in the United States. A new report put inflation at 3.4% in July, down slightly from June but still above target.

Economists are also watching energy costs and their potential impact on other parts of the economy as the Trump administration faces ongoing domestic and international challenges.