Ex-Trump Spox Stunned Over Karoline Leavitt Leaving With No Ready Replacement: ‘I’m Very Surprised!’

Former White House Communications Director Mike Dubke told CNN he was stunned to see Karoline Leavitt quit her role as President Donald Trump’s press secretary without the administration being immediately ready to announce her replacement.

He shared his take soon after Trump announced on Wednesday his “wonderful” press secretary was stepping down to spend more time with her family.

“I’m very surprised by it,” Dubke said when asked for his reaction, “Because generally when you have a transition from press secretary to the other, you’ve got somebody waiting in the wings or maybe a deputy that can step in.

Dubke — who served as the comms director for Trump from March to June in 2017 — pointed out the administration had a “rotating cast of characters” fill in for Leavitt while she was away on maternity leave earlier this year. That span included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance answering questions in the White House press briefing room.

Trump said in his Truth Social post announcing Leavitt’s exit she had been a “real leader” in the White House and will now transition to being one of his “top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”

Leavitt followed it up with a lengthy X post saying her time in his administration had been the “honor and adventure of a lifetime.”

She continued, “Most of all, I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium. I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes.”

Dubke told CNN “this was the one time in politics” where he believed someone actually resigned to spend more time with their family; he said it’s usually a “joke” excuse in Washington, D.C.

Watch above.

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