Karoline Leavitt opens up about leaving her dream job

Later today, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt will be wrapping up her time at the White House. Leavitt, who at just 29 years old, is the youngest White House press secretary in history, leaving the administration today after 585 days on the job, the second longest tenure of any of President Trump's top White House spokespeople. And Caroline Leavitt joins me now. Mama, you've made it to the finish line. Pat, this must be so surreal. How are you feeling this morning, last day? Great. Well, thank you so much for having me, Markie. It's great to see you. And I always enjoy watching your show every morning here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It is a very surreal feeling. Today will be my last day on the job as White House press secretary. I've been here for the past 20 months. And then, of course, prior to that, serving as President Trump's spokesperson on his historic reelection campaign. It has been the honor and blessing of my life to serve as his spokesperson. I think regardless of Republican or Democrat, everyone in this country can agree, there will never be another political figure or president like President Donald J. Trump. And it has just been the adventure of a lifetime to serve in this job. He has accomplished so much. And I very much look forward to returning home and spending a lot more time with my kids, but continuing to serve as an outside advisor to the president and cheering him on every step of the way over the course of the next two years here in Washington. You have done such an impressive job. That is for sure. You bring up your kids, Caroline. You know, I played that soundbite off the top, the president teasing you. I'm guessing you're willing to confirm that you do, in fact, love your own children more than the president of the United States. Fact check, yes, that is true. And the president is, of course, joking when he says that. He's making it as a joke and jest. But I do have to say, I am so grateful to the president for being so understanding of me and my family in this very difficult decision. You know, I had my son, who's now two years old, when I was serving on President Trump's historic reelection campaign. And the president's tragic assassination attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, sent me back to work far more earlier than I expected, especially after having my first child. And then again, with my daughter here, the president allowing me to not only be the youngest White House press secretary, but also the first to ever give birth in the role. He couldn't have been more supportive, more understanding. And now in this decision to take a step back to spend more time with my kids, he's just been supportive all the way. I really think it just proves that he is a pro-family president. There are so many mothers and fathers who work here at the White House every day. And the president is supportive of all of us in these jobs and the most important jobs of raising our kids and raising the next generation. So I'm very lucky and privileged to have a boss who's been supportive of that and that part of my life throughout this entire experience. Yeah, you're going to go spend more time with your family. You and I have talked about motherhood before and just balancing work and parenting. And it's a lot. It's a privilege to do both. But it is a lot at the same time. And I know you didn't take this decision lightly. And you don't just decide overnight to walk into the Oval Office to the president of the United States and tell him you no longer want this job. What was that aha moment for you or that work trip where you said, you know what, I got to go spend more time with those babies? Yeah, well, as you know, every day, Markey, as a working mother, is a challenge. You have to make sacrifices. You have to prioritize your time and you have to say no to a lot of opportunities that come your way because you want to be there for bedtime with your kids every night. And so it's just been a balancing act and a challenge every day on this job over the last 20 months. But I think the birth of my second daughter, as I said in my statement, really just showed me that, you know, two children at home who deserve and need their mother's 24-7 constant attention and presence. They are very young. This is a very impressionable time. And of course, we never get these years back with our young kids. And so I think, you know, welcoming my daughter into this world in May. Your heart changes as a mom. Only mothers understand that. And I just prayed on it and talked to my husband night after night about what to do. And, you know, I love this job so much. I believe so much in the president and everything he's working to accomplish here. So it was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make. But, you know, God just convicted my heart that it's the right thing to do for me and my family at this time. I think I've served the president the best I can, and he deserves a press secretary who can be here on the clock literally 24-7. That's what the job requires. And sometimes in life, you just can't have it all at the same time. And I realize I'm at that moment in my life right now.