White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles publicly celebrated Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, following the announcement that the 28-year-old press secretary — the youngest ever to hold the position — will step down from her post at the end of the month. In a post on X, Wiles, the first woman in American history to serve as White House chief of staff, offered a personal and effusive tribute to the colleague she hired years earlier, praising both her professional command of the podium and the “woman behind” it.
Susie Wiles’ Tribute In Full
Wiles posted her message at 6:06 p.m. on Wednesday, hours after Leavitt’s departure was first announced. “Karoline, you have been nothing short of extraordinary. You have taken on one of the toughest jobs in Washington with confidence, discipline, grace and an unmatched ability to deliver the President’s message. Simply put, you are the greatest @PressSec,” Wiles wrote.
She continued by turning from Leavitt’s professional performance to the personal side of her tenure. “But what has been equally special is that you’ve let us see the woman behind the podium. It has been a privilege to watch you excel as a professional while also being an incredible wife and devoted mom,” Wiles wrote.
Wiles closed her message by describing the relationship as one of mentorship and friendship built over years working together. “You’ve made all of us, who have had the privilege of working alongside you, so proud. I am blessed to call you dear friend and I’m excited to see what your next chapter looks like. Congratulations, @karolineleavitt!” she wrote.
Karoline Leavitt’s Farewell Message
Wiles’ tribute followed a lengthy statement Leavitt posted to X earlier that afternoon, at 2:42 p.m., announcing her own decision to leave the podium. “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for granting me so many extraordinary opportunities, such as working in the West Wing and spending countless hours in the Oval Office, flying around the world and meeting foreign leaders, and traveling across our beautiful country and meeting Americans from all walks of life,” Leavitt wrote.
She went on to describe the podium itself as the defining privilege of the job. “Most of all, I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium. I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes,” she said.
Leavitt then addressed motherhood directly, describing the tension between the demands of the job and raising two young children. “Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least. The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” she wrote.
She made clear the move was not an exit from Trump’s political orbit. “President Trump has asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside, and I will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party. Our country is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party that seeks to destroy everything great about America, and I believe it is incumbent upon all of us who care about this country to fight back against that threat. My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over,” Leavitt wrote.
Leavitt closed her statement with gratitude toward the president’s family and, notably, toward Wiles by name. “Thank you again to the President, the First Lady, and the entire Trump family for your kindness and generosity over the years. Thank you to our amazing Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for empowering me since the day she hired me on the campaign, and to the President’s cabinet, my staff, colleagues, and friends at the White House who work so hard on behalf of our nation. It has been a privilege to serve alongside so many accomplished and impressive people, and I look forward to cheering them on over the next two and a half years,” she wrote, adding a final thank-you “to my loving and supportive husband and family for the sacrifices they made for me to serve in this role.”
A Bond That Predates The White House
Leavitt’s specific mention of Wiles “empowering me since the day she hired me on the campaign” points to a working relationship that stretches back well before either woman set foot in the West Wing. Wiles, a longtime Republican operative who co-managed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign alongside Chris LaCivita, was widely credited with running what was described as Trump’s most disciplined operation to date, and Leavitt served as national press secretary for that same campaign before the two women moved into the administration together in January 2025.
The two women’s public rapport has surfaced before. When Trump announced in March 2026 that Wiles had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, Leavitt posted her own tribute to the chief of staff, writing that Wiles “epitomizes what it means to be a strong leader” and calling her “also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” Leavitt added that Wiles had led Trump’s “historic 2024 comeback campaign” and was “now spearheading the most successful administration in history,” saying she was “praying for Susie and rallying behind her” as she began treatment.
That exchange, paired with Wednesday’s dual statements, underscores a dynamic that colleagues have described as more mentorship than simple hierarchy. Wiles has been widely characterized throughout her career as someone who builds loyalty among the staff around her, with former Trump advisers previously describing her as a mentor and friend to many who worked under her during the 2024 campaign.
Two Women Making History Side By Side
Wiles and Leavitt’s professional partnership carries particular significance in Washington because both women hold historic firsts in their respective roles. Wiles became the first woman ever to serve as White House chief of staff when Trump named her to the post in November 2024, a role widely regarded as the most powerful staff position in the federal government.
Leavitt, for her part, became the youngest press secretary in American history when Trump appointed her at age 27 in November 2024, a record that had previously been held by Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the podium under President Nixon.
Leavitt’s Path To The Podium
Leavitt’s route to the West Wing ran through Trump’s political operation rather than a traditional press career. Before joining the 2024 campaign, she worked as a top aide to Rep. Elise Stefanik and served as a press aide and speechwriter during Trump’s first administration under then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. She also ran unsuccessfully for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022 before rejoining Trump’s orbit ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Leavitt gave birth to her second child in May and had only recently returned to the podium from maternity leave before Wednesday’s announcement that she will depart her post at the end of August.
What Comes Next
President Trump had announced Leavitt’s departure himself earlier Wednesday afternoon on Truth Social, writing that she would remain involved with the administration in an advisory capacity. “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections,” Trump wrote, adding that she had “done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018” and calling her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
As of Wednesday, no successor had been named to take over briefing room duties once Leavitt’s departure takes effect, leaving open who will next stand at the podium Wiles credited her with commanding so effectively.