Karoline Rose Leavitt

Karoline Leavitt attended Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where she was an active student and athlete, graduating in 2015.

She then pursued higher education at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science in 2019 while playing NCAA Division II softball.

Karoline Leavitt began her professional career in political communications shortly after graduating from college, initially working as an assistant in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence in 2019. She quickly transitioned to the White House Press Office, where she served as an Assistant Press Secretary during the latter part of the first Trump administration. This early exposure to executive branch communications laid the foundational experience she would later utilize on a much grander scale.

Following the 2020 election, she moved to Capitol Hill to serve as the Communications Director for New York Representative Elise Stefanik. In this capacity, she was instrumental in crafting messaging for one of the highest-ranking Republican women in Congress, further cementing her reputation as a capable and aggressive political strategist. Her work with Stefanik helped raise her profile significantly within conservative circles.

In 2022, Leavitt decided to transition from a staffer to a candidate, launching a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. She won a highly competitive Republican primary, becoming the second member of Generation Z to win a congressional primary. Although she ultimately lost the general election to incumbent Chris Pappas, her campaign showcased her formidable debate skills and grassroots appeal.

Her political resilience paid off when she joined Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as the National Press Secretary. Throughout the grueling election cycle, she was a constant presence on television networks, fiercely defending the campaign's positions and clashing with political commentators. Her performance earned the deep trust of the inner circle, positioning her for a prominent role in the incoming administration.

In January 2025, she made history by being appointed as the White House Press Secretary, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the prestigious position. By 2026, her daily briefings have become highly watched events, characterized by her direct and unapologetic approach to handling the White House press corps. She has fundamentally reshaped the office's communication strategy, prioritizing direct-to-consumer media while aggressively pushing the administration's policy narrative.

Karoline Leavitt was born and raised in Atkinson, New Hampshire, into a family that owned a local ice cream stand and a used car dealership. Growing up working in her family's small businesses instilled in her a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the struggles of middle-class entrepreneurs, themes she frequently references in her political messaging.

She remains closely tied to her New Hampshire roots, often returning to her home state when her demanding schedule in Washington, D.C., permits. Despite the intense public scrutiny that accompanies her high-profile position, she strives to maintain a boundary between her public duties and her private life.

In mid-2024, amidst the intensity of the presidential campaign, Leavitt welcomed her first child, a son. She has spoken candidly about the challenges and rewards of balancing motherhood with a grueling political career, often citing her family as her primary motivation for her work in public service. She is known to be a devout Catholic, which she says guides her moral framework and policy perspectives.