Trump's former press secretary Karoline Leavitt joins Fox News as contributor
Karoline Leavitt is joining Fox News as an on-air contributor. (Reuters: Kylie Cooper)
In short:
Donald Trump's former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is joining Fox News as an on-air contributor.
The 29-year-old announced she would leave the White House in August after being the youngest person to hold the role of press secretary.
The president has hired several Fox News personalities in key jobs in his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has landed her next gig at Fox News.
One of the most prominent faces of President Donald Trump's second administration, Ms Leavitt will serve as an on-air contributor in November, the network said.
"Karoline's firsthand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today's political landscape," said the network's CEO, Suzanne Scott.
Ms Leavitt said she would bring a "unique perspective" from her time as press secretary, "along with the same energy and candour that defined my tenure".
The 29-year-old announced she was leaving the White House in August. She was the youngest person to hold the role of press secretary.
The Trump family and Ms Leavitt this year. (Supplied)
From the White House to Fox News
When she left, Mr Trump described her as one of his "most trusted aides".
At the time, she said she wanted to spend more time with her two children.
Her second child, Viviana, was born in May, and she has a two-year-old son.
Ms Leavitt is not the first of Mr Trump's press secretaries to join Fox. Kayleigh McEnany joined in 2021 and remains at the network.
The president has hired several Fox News personalities in key jobs in his administration, chief among them Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Mr Trump being interviewed by Pete Hegseth at the White House in 2017. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
Trump's relationship with Fox News
Mr Trump has an increasingly thorny relationship with the network, whose key commentators have long given him favourable coverage.
He has expressed frustration with Fox coverage choices as recently as Sunday, when he bemoaned what he said was the network's lack of coverage of his rallies.
"Sad to see that Fox & Friends (Sunday) is not covering our packed house and incredibly enthusiastic (beyond!) Rally that took place in Ohio last night, or the ones in Alabama, Texas, or Oklahoma over the past two days," he posted on his Truth Social platform.
"They were all sold out, with thousands of people trying to get in, and are absolutely phenomenal, better than ever!
"Remember, Fox tried this act once before, and almost went out of business (and always right before an election!). That can happen again!" he wrote.
He also criticised the recent firing of longtime Fox financial journalist Maria Bartiromo.
The comments came as Mr Trump is embroiled in a stand-off with news outlets whose coverage displeases him, capped by his recent efforts to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds.
Mr Trump has recently criticised Fox News. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
A judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the ban, and a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Before becoming White House press secretary, Ms Leavitt served as press secretary for Mr Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
At age 25, she also made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022 from her home state of New Hampshire.
AP