Press Secretary Leavitt to Step Down; Kennedy Center and Park Service Face New Tests

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to ever hold the position, will leave the administration at the end of the month. The 28-year-old announced the move in a social media post on Wednesday, describing it as a "bittersweet decision." President Donald Trump confirmed her departure shortly before her statement.

Leavitt, who recently returned to the podium after the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May, said she could not balance the demands of the role with her responsibilities as a mother. She also has a two-year-old son. In her post, she explained that the constant time and energy required of the press secretary role made it impossible to be the mother her children deserve. Trump has not indicated who will succeed her.

In a separate development, the Kennedy Center's board is scheduled to meet on Thursday to consider the future of the performing arts venue. This follows a federal judge's decision to block an earlier proposal for a two-year closure that would have allowed for major renovations. Management will present the board with three options: a full closure, a partial closure that maintains some public access and programming in unaffected areas, or a series of highly limited phased closures focused only on the most critical infrastructure needs while preserving a full schedule of events.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had ruled that the board's previous vote to close the center appeared "ill-informed and seemingly preordained." The board, which is largely composed of Trump allies, may now face pressure to demonstrate that it has carefully weighed all alternatives.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service is navigating a political predicament stemming from the president's handling of repairs at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Critics argue that the months-long saga, along with other administration demands—such as revising park exhibits and demolishing structures like the White House's East Wing—undermines the integrity of the agency. Bill Wade, a former park ranger and superintendent, said he has never witnessed such systematic degradation and disrespect of the Park Service as under the current administration.

Additionally, a senior U.S. official revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent flew on a decoy plane from last month's NATO summit in Turkey following an Iranian threat. Trump was secretly moved to a smaller military jet. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rubio was aware of the switch but could not say why he remained on the decoy aircraft. Security precautions for the president are more robust than for Cabinet members, the official noted.