Trump’s Press Secretary Resignation: Personal Decision or Other Reasons?

Carolyn Levitt is stepping down as White House Press Secretary at the end of August. US President Donald Trump himself confirmed the matter on Wednesday (August 12). Trump is going to lose one of his most trusted advisors just before the midterm elections in November.

However, Levitt, 28, is not completely leaving Trump's political circle even though she is leaving the White House. Separate statements from Trump and Levitt said that after leaving the post, she will work as an external communications advisor outside the White House. She will also play a role as a party organizer in determining the future outline of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) movement.

Stepping down to give time to her child?

In a message on social media, Levitt said that she wants to spend more time with her children. She became the mother of a daughter in May. She recently returned to duty after maternity leave.

According to Levitt, the desire to spend more time with her family was one of the reasons for her resignation. However, the timing of her resignation and some recent controversies have created a lot of discussion in political circles.

President Trump has also praised Levitt highly. In a message on social media, he wrote that Caroline has served as a true leader in the White House since 2018 in the fight for justice, freedom and free thought. Trump also praised her role in the 2024 election campaign.

He also called Levitt 'one of the best press secretaries in the history of the White House'. On the other hand, Levitt described his time in the White House as 'one of the best and most exciting experiences of his life'.

The youngest press secretary of the White House

Before becoming the White House press secretary, Levitt joined Trump's campaign in the 2024 US presidential election. He later served as Trump's spokesman. He was then appointed as the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history.

During his nearly year-and-a-half tenure, Levitt and White House communications director Steven Cheung made major changes to the administration's communications policy and relations with the media. Trump's allies welcomed the change, but supporters of a free press sharply criticized it.

Breaking with tradition, the Trump administration began to decide for itself which journalists could reach the president directly. As a result, the administration moved away from the traditional "press pool" system long operated by the independent organization "White House Correspondents' Association."

The press pool system had long been in place to ensure equal access to various media at small events and to deliver information in the public interest.

Increased importance to new media

As part of this change, the Trump administration's press office allocated certain seats in the briefing room for the media. As a result, podcasts, newsletters and new digital media outlets have become more important in covering the president's activities.

While some see this as a positive, critics complain that the Trump administration has used this opportunity as a tool to reward its loyal media outlets. Levitt announced his resignation amid the controversy.

Resignation announcement amid controversy

Levitt's announcement of his resignation comes at a time when there is widespread discussion about a report published in the US media in the Washington Post. The report published this week claimed that Trump used a plane carrying members of his cabinet, staff and journalists as a kind of "bait" when returning to the United States after a NATO summit in Turkey last July.

According to the report, the US Secret Service secretly transferred Trump from one plane to another plane—a C-32—in the back of a catering truck, under threat of possible assassination by Iran.

However, journalists and other passengers on the main plane did not know about it at the time.

The Washington Post report has also raised questions about long-standing traditions and rules regarding US presidential foreign trips and security. Some critics say that even though the president was safely evacuated from a possible Iranian attack, the question remains as to how the safety of others on the same plane was considered.

So what is the connection between Levitt's resignation and the plane controversy?

Naturally, the question arises - is there any connection between the incident of Trump being secretly evacuated to another plane on the way back from Turkey and Caroline Levitt's resignation?

So far, there is no evidence of a direct connection between that incident and Levitt's resignation. Levitt himself has cited the issue of spending more time with his children as the reason for his resignation.

However, there is speculation in political and media circles about the matter.

According to many, the incident regarding the Turkish plane was very secret. But President Trump may have been unhappy that it was finally made public in the media. Since White House press briefings and media relations were an important part of Levitt's duties, what happened?