Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will become an on-air contributor for Fox News. The network announced Monday that her role will begin November 1. Leavitt said she hopes to bring viewers the perspective she gained from serving as White House press secretary, along with the energy and candor that defined her time in the role.

Background and context

Leavitt was 29 at the time of reporting, making her the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary. She was the national spokesperson for the Trump campaign in the 2024 presidential election and became White House press secretary after Trump won. She left the post at the end of August.

Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said Leavitt’s experience working at the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a unique perspective on understanding today’s political landscape. The move is an example of someone with experience as a political spokesperson going on to work as a broadcast commentator.

When she left the post, Leavitt said she wanted to spend more time with her children. Her second child, Viviana, was born in May, and she also has a two-year-old son. President Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides when she left the job. Her move into broadcasting after stepping down to spend more time with her family represents a shift from public service to the media.

Leavitt is not the first former spokesperson for President Trump to join Fox News. Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany began working as a Fox News commentator in 2021 and now hosts her own program. McEnany’s path, however, does not foreshadow Leavitt’s future role on the network. Based on the information available now, it is not known whether Leavitt will have a regular program or what format her appearances will take.

What this news means

Fox News has brought on a commentator with firsthand experience at the White House and on the campaign trail. That is the experience and understanding of the political landscape that CEO Scott emphasized. Viewers may hear explanations informed by Leavitt’s past public service, but that experience alone does not determine what she will say in the future or what role she will have on air.

Leavitt herself said she would bring viewers the perspective, energy and candor she developed as White House press secretary. Readers can therefore distinguish between her explanations of what she experienced as a former press secretary and her assessments of current political issues when they hear her speak.

For example, if Leavitt refers to her time at the White House in future broadcasts, viewers can consider whether she is describing something she experienced firsthand as press secretary or interpreting the current situation based on that experience. It is not yet known what topics she will cover or how she will appear.

Points reported differently across outlets

One report said Leavitt would work as an “on-air contributor” for Fox News, while another described her as joining the network as a “commentator.” Both terms can refer to a role providing analysis or commentary on television, but no specific program or appearance format has been announced.

Another report added that Leavitt was expected to provide commentary on current-affairs and news programs. This was presented as a forecast about where she might appear, not as a confirmed programming announcement. Reports on Fox News’s announcement did not name a specific program.

What is confirmed and what is not yet known

Confirmed facts

  • Leavitt is a former White House press secretary and is set to become an on-air contributor for Fox News.
  • Fox News announced that her role will begin November 1.
  • Leavitt left the press secretary post at the end of August and said at the time that she wanted to spend more time with her children.
  • Leavitt said she hopes to bring viewers the perspective, energy and candor she gained from her time as press secretary.

What is not yet known

  • The specific programs Leavitt will appear on and how often she will appear have not been disclosed.
  • Reports have not provided the terms of her contract with Fox News.
  • The scope of her role on air and the topics she will cover have not been confirmed.

What readers should look for

  • Readers can check for any future announcements from Fox News about program names and appearance formats. The reported possibility that she will appear on “current-affairs and news programs” should be distinguished from a confirmed announcement.
  • When hearing Leavitt’s remarks, readers can better understand their nature by considering whether she is explaining her experience as a former press secretary or commenting on current issues.

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