Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt joins Fox News as a contributor
White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a statement, “Everybody at the White House is thrilled she has this opportunity."
Karoline Leavitt, who as White House press secretary was a firebrand defender of President Donald Trump, is joining Fox News as a contributor, the network announced.
Leavitt departed the White House in August and is set to begin at Fox News on Nov. 1.
In a statement, Leavitt said she looks forward to bringing to Fox’s viewers her “unique perspective” and “the same energy and candor” that defined her tenure at the White House.
Fox News chief executive Suzanne Scott wrote that Leavitt’s “firsthand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today’s political landscape.”
Leavitt recently moved with her family back to her home state of New Hampshire, and Fox agreed to build a studio in her home, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive details.
The New York Times first reported news of Leavitt’s hiring at Fox.
Leavitt, who recently turned 29, was the youngest White House press secretary in history. She took on a singularly difficult task: speaking for a president who so often speaks — and posts online — for himself. She gave birth to a girl in May and, upon announcing her departure, said she felt she could not be the best mother to her two young children while in the role.
The White House has not yet announced a replacement for Leavitt, and the position remains vacant.
“Karoline is one of the best and most effective communicators around,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a statement. “Everybody at the White House is thrilled she has this opportunity to speak to the FOX News audience about President Trump’s successful agenda and highlight all the hard work this Administration has done for the American people.”
Fox, a popular cable channel known for its conservative opinion hosts, has had a close relationship with Trump and his White House. Trump has hired Fox News personalities for top positions, most notably in his second administration: Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and Sean P. Duffy as transportation secretary.
Fox’s Bret Baier, Laura Ingraham, and Jesse Watters all attended Trump’s recent state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But Trump, an avid Fox watcher, has also publicly complained about the network in recent days.
“Why does FoxNews always put Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Jessica Tarlov, and every Democrat on, saying bad things about the Republican Party and, of course, me? I actually think they get more airtime than Pro Republicans,” he wrote on Truth Social last week. “This is why MAGA, and REAL Patriots, will never like Fox! They repeat a completely negative narrative, on and on it goes, and then we get a quick retort.”
On Sunday, the president predicted that the channel’s ratings will plummet if it does not show his rallies.
“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, or the ones in Alabama, Texas, or Oklahoma over the past two days,” he wrote on Truth Social. “… Our people want to see our Rallies, and reports on our Rallies, on FoxNews, or they will very quickly stop watching (like I am doing right now!).”
