NEW YORK (AP) — Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced her next career move: she will be joining Fox News as an on-air contributor starting November 1. The network made the announcement on Monday.
The CEO of Fox News, Suzanne Scott, praised Leavitt's unique background, stating, "Karoline's firsthand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today’s political landscape.” Leavitt herself expressed excitement about bringing her experiences and spirited approach to the network's vast audience across its various platforms.
At just 29 years old, Leavitt made history as the youngest press secretary to serve in that role. She departed from her position at the end of August, having received commendations from former President Donald Trump, who characterized her as one of his “most trusted aides.” At the time of her resignation, Leavitt indicated a desire to spend more time with her growing family, having welcomed her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. She also has a two-year-old son.
Leavitt is not the first individual from Trump's communications team to transition to Fox News. Kayleigh McEnany joined the network in 2021 and continues to contribute, while Dana Perino, who served as press secretary under President George W. Bush, is a political commentator there. Moreover, during his presidency, Trump brought on several Fox News personalities for prominent roles in his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Interestingly, relations between Trump and Fox News have become more complicated. The former president has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the network's coverage choices, decrying what he perceives as a lack of attention to his rally events. On his platform, Truth Social, Trump lamented, “Sad to see that Fox & Friends (Sunday) is not covering our packed house and incredibly enthusiastic (beyond!) Rally that took place in Ohio last night.” He also referred to their past struggles, warning that "Fox tried this act once before, and almost went out of business (and always right before an election!). That can happen again!”
In addition to his grievances about coverage, Trump has also been critical of the recent firing of longtime Fox financial journalist Maria Bartiromo. His comments surfaced amid a broader contentious relationship with various media outlets, intensified by his attempts to restrict access for certain news organizations, such as CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, from White House events. A judge has halted this ban with a temporary restraining order, and a hearing is anticipated to seek further resolutions for the involved news outlets.
Before stepping into the role of White House press secretary, Leavitt had previously worked as the press secretary for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. She also ran, at age 25, for a congressional seat in 2022 representing her home state of New Hampshire, though her bid was unsuccessful.
