Karoline Leavitt, the former White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is joining Fox News as an on-air contributor, with her role set to begin on November 1. The network announced the hiring on Monday, highlighting Leavitt’s experience within the Trump administration and her work on the 2024 presidential campaign.
Leavitt, 29, was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary in U.S. history. She held the position from January 2025 until August 2026, leaving the role following the birth of her second child and citing a desire to spend more time with her young family. After departing Washington, she relocated to her home state of New Hampshire, where Fox News reportedly agreed to build a studio to accommodate her contributions.
During her tenure, Leavitt was noted for her strong, rapid-fire defense of Trump’s policies and her frequent confrontations with mainstream media reporters. She created a "new media" briefing room seat often occupied by conservative commentators and pro-Trump social media influencers, reflecting her commitment to promoting the president’s agenda. White House communications director Steven Cheung praised Leavitt’s communication skills, expressing support for her new role at Fox News as a platform to highlight the administration’s accomplishments.
Leavitt’s move to Fox News continues a trend of former Trump press secretaries entering television punditry. Her predecessors Kayleigh McEnany and Sarah Huckabee Sanders have also secured roles at the network, with McEnany co-hosting the daytime show “Outnumbered” and hosting a weekend program.
Fox News Media Chief Executive Suzanne Scott emphasized that Leavitt’s firsthand experience in the White House and on the campaign trail equips her with a distinct understanding of the current political landscape. Leavitt herself expressed enthusiasm about bringing her perspective and candor to Fox’s audience across various programs, including both news and opinion segments.
Fox News maintains a complex relationship with former President Trump. While the channel remains a key platform for conservative commentary supportive of Trump, the former president has recently criticized the network’s coverage on social media, accusing it of airing a "completely negative narrative" about him and his allies. Trump, an avid Fox viewer, has publicly lamented the network’s handling of his rallies and perceived overexposure of Democratic voices.
The Trump administration’s close ties to Fox News have extended beyond the press office, with several Fox personalities appointed to Cabinet positions during his second term, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. Trump family members also have their own shows on the network, further intertwining the relationship between Fox News and the former president.
Leavitt’s hiring solidifies Fox News’s continuing role as a platform for voices affiliated with the Trump movement, at a time when the political landscape remains deeply polarized and media consumption is closely linked with partisan identities.