Karoline Leavitt, former Trump press secretary, joins Fox News as contributor

Karoline Leavitt, who served as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is joining Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, the network announced Monday. According to multiple outlets including Deadline, UPI and the Washington Examiner, Leavitt will begin her new role on Nov. 1, providing commentary and analysis across the network's programming.

Leavitt, 29, was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary in history, according to The Guardian and TheBlaze. She stepped down from the position on Aug. 27, according to the Washington Examiner, after announcing earlier that month that she planned to spend more time with her family following the birth of her second child, per The Guardian. She subsequently rejoined the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc., according to TheBlaze and The Guardian, and was a featured speaker at the Republican Midterm Convention in early September, according to TheBlaze.

In a statement cited by The Daily Signal, Leavitt said: "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. 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," according to TheBlaze.

According to Fox News's own reporting as described by TheBlaze, Leavitt is scheduled to "provide commentary across the Fox News lineup." The Washington Examiner and NBC News both describe Fox News as a network with ties to the Trump administration, with NBC News characterizing it as "the conservative cable news network." Variety reported that Leavitt follows what it called "a well-trod path" of Trump administration officials moving to the network, and Newsweek published a list of other Trump officials linked to Fox News.

TheBlaze reported that before this role, Leavitt's professional media experience was limited to internships at local news organizations while a student at New Hampshire's Saint Anselm College, and that this marks the first time she will work directly with a major news organization professionally. She began her career as a deputy press secretary during Trump's first administration, later ran for Congress, and worked for Trump's super PAC, according to TheBlaze.

How the coverage differed

Left-leaning outlets more frequently highlighted tension or irony in the move. The Daily Beast's headline called Leavitt a "hypocrite" for "taking a Fox News perk," while Variety noted she "spent much of her time chastising and denigrating the journalists who asked her questions" before joining one of the outlets that posed those questions. The Mirror similarly framed the job as "the most unsurprising job" after leaving Trump's inner circle. These critical framings were largely absent from center and right-leaning coverage.

Right-leaning outlets, including TheBlaze, The Daily Signal and the Washington Examiner, focused more on biographical detail — her resignation date, her brief stint at MAGA Inc., her convention appearance, and direct quotes from Leavitt's statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Center outlets such as Deadline and The Hill emphasized logistical facts, including the Nov. 1 start date and comparisons to other former Trump officials joining the network.

Coverage volume was heavy across all three groups, with dozens of outlets publishing largely similar, brief announcements. Few outlets beyond TheBlaze supplied extended biographical background or a direct quote from Leavitt, meaning the statement is treated here as a single-source claim.

What is still unclear

The sources do not specify Leavitt's compensation, the terms of her contract, or which specific programs she will appear on beyond general commentary across the Fox News lineup. It is also unclear from the material how her new role might intersect with her continued association with MAGA Inc.