Fox News halts for breaking Trump announcement in devastating blow for president

Fox News host Martha MacCallum paused her live broadcast for a breaking news announcement. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is youngest person to hold the role, will leave at month's end, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday. The host began, "Here, some breaking news for you. This is from President Trump on Truth Social. 'Our wonderful press secretary and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful children and family. A decision I totally understand and respect.

Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisers and influential voice within the Republican Party as we work to defy history and conclusively win the mid-term elections. Karoline has been a real leader in the White House and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our historic re-election campaign of 2024.'

'Karoline has been one of the best press secretaries in the history of the office. Thank you Karoline for a job well done.'"

The host explained: "Karoline had her second child over the summer and took a bit of time off to be with that baby. It sounds like she will still be quite involved as we head to the mid-terms. But not in the day-to-day press office briefings, which she has become legendary in carrying out."

Karoline, 28, who gave birth to a second child in May and had only returned from maternity leave on July 16, admitted it was a "bittersweet decision."

"Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least," she wrote on X on Wednesday.

"The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life."

Leavitt has been one of Trump's closest confidantes, attending classified briefings in the Situation Room and counselled over major crises including the Jeffrey Epstein scandal an unusual distinction for a press secretary.

Her shock exit comes at a critical time for the president as he braces for the mid-term elections, the Iran war and sky-high gas prices. Leavitt's replacement remains unclear and there was no official stand-in while she was on maternity leave.

She is known for her no-nonsense approach in the White House briefing room as she calls out journalists who dare to cross the Trump administration.