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Karoline Leavitt

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Karoline Leavitt
Headshot of Karoline Leavitt, a young, white, blonde woman, speaking in a conference
Leavitt in 2022
White House Press Secretary
Designate
Assuming office
January 20, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
SucceedingKarine Jean-Pierre
Personal details
Born
Karoline Claire Leavitt

(1997-08-24) August 24, 1997 (age 27)
Atkinson, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNicholas Riccio
Children1
EducationSaint Anselm College (BA)

Karoline Claire Leavitt (born August 24, 1997)[1] is an American political aide currently serving as the national press secretary for Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.[2] She previously served as an assistant press secretary and presidential writer during the first Donald Trump administration as well as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump Super PAC. In 2022, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 1st district, becoming the second member of Generation Z to win a congressional primary. She lost the general election to incumbent Chris Pappas.[3]

On November 15, 2024, president-elect Donald Trump chose Leavitt as his White House press secretary to succeed Karine Jean-Pierre.[4] She will be the youngest press secretary in United States history.[5]

Early life and education

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Karoline Claire Leavitt[6] was born in Atkinson, New Hampshire, where she was raised in the Catholic faith.[7] Her family owned an ice cream shop and a used truck dealership in Plaistow, New Hampshire.[8][7] She attended Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She then attended Saint Anselm College[9][1] on a scholarship for NCAA Division II college softball.[10] Leavitt was outspoken on campus about her support for the Trump administration. Her op-eds in the school newspaper include a defense of Trump's travel ban and an attack on news media.[11][12][13] She founded the school's first broadcasting club.[13] While in college, Leavitt worked at Hearst Television WMUR-TV.[14][9] She graduated in 2019 with bachelor of arts degrees in communications and political science.[15][16]

Career

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During her education at Saint Anselm College, Leavitt interned at Fox News.[17] The summer before her senior year of college, she interned in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.[7] She returned briefly after her 2019 graduation before joining the White House Press Office as an assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany.[7][8] Following the conclusion of the Trump administration, she was hired as the communications director for U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik from New York.[18][19]

2022 congressional campaign

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In 2022, Leavitt announced she was running for the US House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 1st district. She campaigned with a focus on conservative values, reduced taxes, strong law enforcement, and guns.[20][21] The Republican primary attracted wide attention because both candidates were former Trump administration staffers.[22] Leavitt differentiated herself with her brazen style that resembled Trump's, and she gained right-wing supporters including Lauren Boebert, Ted Cruz, and her mentor Elise Stefanik.[22][23] She criticized Matt Mowers with references to "the swamp" and "establishment Republicans" for his funding from outside PACs.[23] The New York Times described the candidates as ideologically similar and suggested the election was a matter of tone rather than policy.[23][22]

In September 2022, Leavitt won the Republican primary in an upset victory, beating projected winner Mowers by about 10 points.[22] Donald Trump congratulated her for succeeding "against all odds".[24] At 25 years old, she became the second member of Generation Z to win a congressional primary after Maxwell Frost the month before.[24][22][25] After she lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas by 8.2% of the vote, she worked for a roster of clients. She declined to run again in 2024.[26]

Trump press secretary

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Leavitt addresses the press outside a Donald Trump trial in New York, May 2024

In January 2024, Leavitt accepted the role of national press secretary for Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign.[27] In one press appearance on CNN This Morning, she was removed from air for arguing about CNN's debate moderators.[28] During a short leave of absence to give birth to her son in July 2024, she was inspired to return to work after seeing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13.[27]

On November 15, 2024, Donald Trump chose Leavitt as his White House press secretary to succeed Karine Jean-Pierre.[4]

Personal life

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Her husband is 30 years her senior, a self-made millionaire named Nicholas Riccio who went from living on the streets to managing his own real estate business.[29] Karoline gave birth to their son in July 2024 and resumed professional duties shortly after giving birth, inspired to return to work after seeing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and relying on her husband and mother for childcare.[30][31][32][27] She advocates for private education and credits her Catholic schooling for instilling pro-life values, discipline, and the importance of service.[13][33]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Birthday of the Day: Karoline Leavitt, White House assistant press secretary". Politico. August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Singman, Brooke (April 3, 2023). "Karoline Leavitt to join Trump super PAC as spokeswoman". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Cohen, Li (September 14, 2022). "25-year-old Karoline Leavitt becomes first Republican Gen Z congressional nominee after winning New Hampshire primary - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "President-elect Donald J. Trump has chosen Karoline Leavitt, his campaign's press secretary, to be his White House press secretary, one of the most high-profile jobs in his next administration". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Price, Michelle (November 15, 2024). "Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest ever White House press secretary". ABC News. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "Karoline Claire Leavitt from Washington, District Of Columbia | VoterRecords.com".
  7. ^ a b c d Burt, Bill (November 28, 2020). "Meet the assistant press secretary". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Sotomayor, Marianna (November 3, 2022). "Karoline Leavitt wants to be Gen Z's conservative voice in Congress". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Iowa State University: Archives of Women's Political Communication". June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu.
  10. ^ "Karoline Leavitt Biography". Saint Anselm College. Archived from the original on November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Leavitt, Karoline. "American media: distorting the truth for political objectives". The Saint Anselm Crier. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Leavitt, Karoline. "President Trump's travel ban is for America's own benefit". The Saint Anselm Crier. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Bookman, Todd (October 19, 2022). "It may be her first campaign, but the building blocks of Leavitt's politics were laid years ago". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "Fox News: Karoline_Leavitt". June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Fox News.
  15. ^ "Ballotpedia: Karoline_Leavitt". June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Ballotpedia.
  16. ^ "The Unexpected Way that a Trump Loss Could Be the End of US". May 28, 2023. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via huckabee.tv.
  17. ^ "Karoline Leavitt to become youngest White House press secretary". BBC News. November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Lahut, Jake (September 13, 2022). "Stefanik-Backed Candidate Wins MAGA World Face-Off in New Hampshire". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Leavitt, 25, cites youth in bid to be youngest congresswoman". Associated Press News. October 30, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Enstrom, Kirk (November 3, 2022). "1st District Rep. Chris Pappas, Karoline Leavitt clash in fiery debate". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Enstrom, Kirk (November 9, 2022). "US Rep. Chris Pappas projected to defeat Republican challenger Karoline Leavitt to win a third term". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e Karni, Annie (September 9, 2022). "In New Hampshire, a MAGA Rivalry Is Splitting House Republicans". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Karni, Annie (September 13, 2022). "Leavitt Upsets Mowers, Winning New Hampshire House G.O.P. Primary". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "New Hampshire First Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  25. ^ Cohen, Li (September 14, 2022). "25-year-old Karoline Leavitt becomes first Republican Gen Z congressional nominee after winning New Hampshire primary - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 8/14". Daily Kos. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "Wonder Woman Karoline Leavitt: Her Life as a New Mom & Trump's Spokeswoman". The Conservateur. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  28. ^ "CNN Anchor Takes Trump Spokeswoman Off Air for Attacking Network's Debate Moderators: 'Ma'am, We're Going to Stop'". People.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  29. ^ Sullivan, Mike. "M Street millionaire". seacoastonline.com. Seacoast Media Group. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "KAROLINE LEAVITT Public figure Wife. Mama. Trump Campaign National Press Secretary". instagram.com. Instagram by Meta. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  31. ^ Mettler, Zachary. "Meet Karoline Leavitt: New Press Secretary, New Mom and Fierce Media Disrupter". dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com. Focus on the Family. Retrieved November 20, 2024. "I looked at my husband and said, 'Looks like I'm going back to work.'"
  32. ^ Coen, Susie (November 15, 2024). "Karoline Leavitt: Trump's new press secretary who was kicked off CNN". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  33. ^ McCormack, Kathy (October 30, 2022). "Leavitt, 25, cites youth in a bid to be the youngest Congresswoman". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
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