White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo)White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, saying she wanted to spend more time with her young children and family. Her departure comes weeks after she returned to the White House following maternity leave after the birth of her daughter, Viviana, in May.Trump described Leavitt as a “real leader” and “one of my most trusted aides”, saying she would become one of his “top outside advisors” and remain an influential voice within the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections.Trump said he “totally” understands her decision and respects it.Although Leavitt was not the policymaker on India, she became one of the administration’s most visible public messengers on issues that mattered directly to Indians, tariffs, Russian oil, immigration and the India-Pakistan conflict.Youngest White House press secretaryLeavitt joined the Trump administration in January 2025 when the Republican leader returned to White House, and she became the youngest person ever to hold the role of White House press secretary. She has two young children with her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, NBC News reported.Leavitt became one of the White House’s most visible messengers on India-US trade during Trump’s second term, repeatedly defending the administration’s tariff policy and outlining its demands from New Delhi, including over Russian oil.In February 2026, she said the US had cut its tariff on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent as part of a new trade arrangement under which India had committed to stop buying Russian oil and purchase more US oil, while also committing to $500 billion in purchases and investment across areas including energy, transportation and agriculture.Story continues below this adLeavitt on India-US trade and Russian oil“As you all saw yesterday, the President struck another great trade deal with India. He spoke with Prime Minister Modi directly; they share a very good relationship. India committed to not only no longer purchasing Russian oil but also buying oil from the United States,” Leavitt said in February, Fox News reported.However, after the US, along with Israel, launched military attacks on Iran, the strategic waterway Strait of Hormuz was virtually shut, and Leavitt said on March 10 that the Trump administration has “temporarily permitted” India to resume limited Russian oil imports, stating that “our allies in India have been good actors.”What Leavitt said during the India-Pakistan conflictDuring the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, Leavitt’s initial briefings on the matter remained cautious, and she conveyed Trump’s message that the President wanted the conflict to “de-escalate as quickly as possible” and stressed that the White House was in “active and ongoing contact” with both New Delhi and Islamabad via Secretary of State Marco Rubio.After India struck terror sites in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, New Delhi and Islamabad reached an understanding to halt the conflict.Story continues below this adIt was then Trump, through his social media posts and interviews, and Leavitt, via her daily press briefings, who started asserting a mediating role. Trump had claimed that he told both sides, “If you stop it, we’re doing trade; if you don’t, we’re not.”India, however, rejected the suggestion that a third party had mediated the ceasefire, saying the understanding was reached directly between the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. 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