White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced online that she is stepping away from her role, saying in a detailed statement that she wants to devote more time to her family.
‘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,’ the 28-year-old wrote Wednesday afternoon.
Her announcement quickly sent shockwaves through Washington, but it was not only the resignation itself that drew attention. The images attached to the post soon became a story of their own.
One photo included in Leavitt’s post appeared to have been edited using artificial intelligence, with the upload carrying a visible ‘made with AI’ label.
The lead image showed President Donald Trump and Leavitt fielding questions from reporters outside the White House. In that version, Leavitt’s face and figure appear altered, while Trump’s face also looks subtly different.
A comparison with the original Getty Images photograph taken on July 15 last year suggests changes to Leavitt’s face, the tilt of her chin, and the appearance of her chest and waistline.
In the edited-looking image, Leavitt’s cheekbones appear more pronounced, her face is angled differently, and her hair seems fuller than in the original photograph.
As news of Leavitt’s departure spread, supporters shared a wave of photos and tributes online, with many expressing disappointment that she was leaving the White House podium.
The selection of photos in Karoline Leavitt’s post announcing she is stepping down as press secretary are making headlines of their own (the original Getty image is seen left, compared to the image Leavitt posted)
The image showed Trump and Leavitt taking questions from a field of reporters just outside the White House. Her face and body appear to be altered in that photo
Leavitt, above with her son Niko, has spent months mulling whether to leave, say insiders
The mother of two with the President at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Tuesday
Leavitt has not responded to questions about possibly using AI in her posts.
Meanwhile, multiple insiders tell Our News Outlet that Leavitt’s decision to quit has actually been months in the making – and deeply pained.
‘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,’ she wrote Wednesday.
The mother of two had returned from maternity leave on July 16 after giving birth to her daughter in May. She also has a two-year-old son with her husband Nicholas Riccio, 60.
One source close to Leavitt – the youngest ever White House press secretary – reveals she had been strongly weighing whether to quit during maternity leave, as the President would contact her often and repeatedly ask when she was coming back.
‘No doubt one of the hardest decisions of her life so far,’ the source said.
Another source detailed an extreme ‘burnout’ in the few weeks since Leavitt had returned to work.
‘It was a very stressful job to do with her children. She never got any sleep, and she didn’t want her performance to slip either, so she decided to stay as long as she could and do the job well,’ the source said. ‘The President did everything he could to keep her.’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, July 16
Karoline Leavitt gave birth to her second child in May
There’s been much speculation on who will take over for Leavitt during her maternity leave, including the women in her press office
‘It’s a thankless job, and these are some big shoes to fill,’ another insider said. ‘I do know that the replacement isn’t chosen just yet. They are still weighing their options.’
Another source says that, after returning from maternity leave, Leavitt very quickly realized she definitely needed out.
‘First week back she realized she wasn’t feeling it anymore,’ the source said. ‘Trump really didn’t want her to leave as he actually trusts her and doesn’t like having to deal with new people in his circle when he wants to focus on getting stuff done in his time left in office.’
