Karoline Leavitt is joining Fox News as an on-air contributor starting Nov. 1.
Leavitt, 29, becomes the second former Trump press secretary to land at the conservative cable network, following Kayleigh McEnany’s path from the White House podium to Fox’s lineup. She exited her post as President Trump’s chief spokeswoman in August after giving birth to her second child, subsequently relocating with her family from Washington to New Hampshire.
The former press secretary had publicly cited family priorities as central to her departure, stating she wanted to devote more time to her children while maintaining her role as an outspoken advocate for Trump and the Republican Party. Her new position appears designed to accommodate both objectives, offering a national platform without requiring residence in the capital.
Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott emphasized Leavitt’s insider credentials in remarks to the outlet, noting that her White House and campaign background furnishes her with a distinctive vantage on the contemporary political landscape. The network’s press release indicated Leavitt will surface across both its news and opinion programming, suggesting a versatile deployment rather than a fixed slot.
Leavitt herself framed the move as a natural progression rather than a departure from her public role. In a statement, she expressed appreciation for the chance to formalize a relationship that had already included frequent guest appearances during and after her government service.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue appearing on Fox News Channel as an official member of the extraordinary team at Fox News Media,” she said.
She added that she intends to carry forward the confrontational style that characterized her briefing room tenure. “I look forward to bringing my unique perspective from my experience as White House Press Secretary, along with the same energy and candor that defined my tenure, to Fox’s millions of viewers across their many platforms.”
The hiring continues Fox News’s pattern of recruiting directly from Trump administration communications ranks, a pipeline that has drawn periodic scrutiny from media critics who note the revolving door between the network and Republican political operations. McEnany, who preceded Leavitt as press secretary and now co-hosts “Outnumbered,” established the template that Leavitt appears set to follow.
Leavitt’s rapid ascent through conservative media and political circles began well before her White House appointment. She served as press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and previously worked in communications for Representative Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chair, gaining notice for her aggressive on-air defense of the former president.
Her August resignation came relatively early in Trump’s second term, making her tenure among the shorter press secretary stints in recent administrations. The circumstances of her exit—explicitly tied to childbirth and family relocation—differed from the more contentious departures that have marked some previous holders of the position.
The network’s announcement specified Nov. 1 as her start date, though it did not identify particular programs where she would initially appear. Fox News and the outlet share corporate parentage through Rupert Murdoch’s media holdings, with Fox Corp operating the cable channel and News Corp controlling the newspaper.
Leavitt’s hiring arrives as Fox News continues to calibrate its programming mix following the 2024 election cycle, during which she emerged as one of the administration’s most visible defenders. Her youth relative to other prominent conservative commentators may factor into the network’s calculus as it seeks to attract viewers across demographic ranges.
The former press secretary’s statement emphasized continuity with her government approach, suggesting viewers can expect the combative exchanges with reporters that became her trademark during daily briefings. Whether that style translates effectively to a contributor role, where the power dynamic with interviewers differs substantially from the podium, remains to be tested in her forthcoming appearances.
Leavitt is scheduled to begin her contributor duties at Fox News on Nov. 1.