President Donald Trump announced in mid-August 2026 that Karoline Leavitt would step down as White House press secretary at the end of the month to spend more time with her family, while continuing as an outside advisor. No successor has been named as of late August, and administration sources indicate the search remains active without a finalized choice. The timing of the announcement hinges on internal deliberations over communications leadership, Senate and White House transition processes for senior roles, and the administration’s preference for a rapid or deliberate replacement amid ongoing press operations. Traders assess probabilities based on historical patterns for filling such positions and any signals from the president or key aides before or shortly after Leavitt’s departure.