President Donald Trump is heading into the 2026 midterms with two important White House jobs about to open. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving at the end of August, while James Braid, Trump’s director of legislative affairs, will leave in September. But the two exits have different reasons. Leavitt has pointed to her family, while Braid is expected to move to the private sector.
Because the White House is entering a busy period for Congress, with Republicans fighting to keep control of the House and Senate, the timing is crucial.
But these two jobs are important, and replacements have not yet been announced. Leavitt’s decision is directly linked to her family. Leavitt has been one of Trump’s most visible and loyal aides. Her departure means Trump will need another person to take over a job that requires constant contact with reporters and the public. The departures do not by themselves show that Trump’s White House is in crisis. Senior staff changes are common around midterm elections.
After returning to work following the birth of her second child, she said the demands of being White House press secretary made it difficult to give her children the time they need. Trump has said she will continue helping him as an outside adviser. One former Trump administration official described the thinking among some aides this way: “I think people are seeing the writing on the wall and thinking Republicans probably aren’t going to have the House, might not have the Senate either, and things are going to be stalled.”
Still, the reasons given for the two exits are not the same. Leavitt has publicly tied her decision to motherhood, while Braid’s departure is linked to his move out of government. The immediate issue for Trump is finding replacements before a demanding election season and congressional session.
Trump announced that Braid will leave in September. Braid is expected to move into the private sector, although his next job has not been publicly announced. Because congress is returning from its August recess for a difficult September session, his timing is crucial.
Whoever replaces Braid will have to quickly take over negotiations with lawmakers while Republicans prepare for the November midterms.
The president praised his work with Congress, including the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” government shutdown battles and the confirmation of his Cabinet.
