Scaramucci Takes Aim at Karoline Leavitt as White House Exit Nears

Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump White House communications director, has sharply criticised Karoline Leavitt as she prepares to leave her position as White House press secretary later this month.

Scaramucci made the remarks while discussing Leavitt on his podcast, where he reflected on their brief period working together during President Donald Trump’s first administration. His comments surfaced shortly after Trump announced that Leavitt would step away from the White House press secretary role at the end of August.

In a clip from the discussion shared on social media, Scaramucci used unusually harsh language to describe Leavitt’s performance as a Trump administration spokesperson. He accused her of repeatedly making false statements while defending the president and characterised her as someone who became increasingly effective at delivering Trump’s political message.

Scaramucci also recalled seeing Leavitt earlier in her career, when she was working as a White House intern during Trump’s first term. He contrasted that earlier version of Leavitt with the senior administration official she later became, saying she had changed significantly as she gained experience in Republican politics and Trump’s political operation.

The criticism comes at a notable moment in Leavitt’s political career. Trump announced on Aug. 12 that she would leave her post at the end of August so she could spend more time with her young children and family. Trump described Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said she would continue to have a role as an outside adviser and influential voice within the Republican Party.

Leavitt, 28, has served as Trump’s press secretary throughout his second term. She became the youngest person to hold the position when she took office in January 2025. Before returning to the White House, she worked as a Trump campaign spokesperson during the 2024 presidential campaign and previously held a position in the White House during Trump’s first term.

Her departure comes only weeks after she returned to the briefing room following maternity leave. Leavitt gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May and returned to public-facing duties in July. During her absence, other senior Trump administration officials handled questions from reporters and represented the administration at briefings.

The White House has portrayed Leavitt’s decision as a personal and family choice rather than a dismissal. Trump publicly praised her work and indicated that he expects her to remain involved in Republican politics even after leaving the press secretary position.

Scaramucci’s criticism, however, reflects the very different assessment he has offered of Leavitt’s political career. Rather than focusing on her decision to leave, he used the opportunity to revisit her time in the Trump administration and question the way she handled her responsibilities as the president’s chief spokesperson.

The two have a shared connection to Trump’s first administration, although their time there was dramatically different. Scaramucci became White House communications director in July 2017 but left the position after only 11 days. Leavitt was then at the beginning of her political career and had worked as a White House communications intern.

Leavitt later established herself as a prominent figure in Trump’s political operation. After her first White House experience, she worked in Republican politics and served as communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik before becoming a spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 campaign. Her strong loyalty to Trump and combative approach toward journalists eventually helped propel her into the White House press secretary role.

As press secretary, Leavitt became one of the administration’s most visible public officials. She regularly defended Trump’s policies during press briefings and often challenged reporters over questions involving the president and his administration.

Her approach also generated controversy. Supporters praised her for aggressively presenting the administration’s position, while critics argued that her confrontational style contributed to tensions between the White House and the traditional news media.

The White House itself has documented Leavitt’s role through numerous official press briefings during her tenure. She also became part of the administration’s effort to broaden access for newer forms of media, including independent journalists, podcasters and online creators.

That media strategy has been one of the defining features of Leavitt’s time as press secretary. Her tenure coincided with the Trump administration’s broader effort to communicate directly with conservative audiences and use alternative media platforms alongside traditional television and newspaper outlets.

Scaramucci’s latest comments therefore add another layer to the debate over Leavitt’s record. His statements represent his personal assessment of a former colleague and should not be treated as an independent finding that Leavitt made a specific number of false statements.

The allegation that she made dozens of false statements per day, mentioned by Scaramucci during his remarks, was not presented with a detailed factual analysis or supporting documentation in the material surrounding his comments. For that reason, the claim is best understood as his criticism rather than an established statistic.

Leavitt has consistently defended the Trump administration’s record and has presented her work at the White House as public service. In announcing her departure, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the president and highlighted the importance of her family in her decision to leave the demanding position.

Trump has not yet announced a permanent successor to Leavitt. Her departure will create a significant vacancy in the administration’s communications operation at a politically important time, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching.

Even after leaving the briefing room, Leavitt is expected to remain connected to Trump and Republican politics. Trump has indicated that he intends to use her political experience and public profile as the administration and Republican Party prepare for the midterm elections.

For Scaramucci, meanwhile, Leavitt’s departure has provided an opportunity to revisit a relationship that dates back to the earliest days of Trump’s first presidency. His comments are likely to attract attention because of his unusual position as a former senior Trump official who has become an outspoken critic of the president and some of his former colleagues.

The clash also illustrates how sharply opinions remain divided over the Trump administration’s communications strategy. Leavitt’s supporters see her as a forceful defender of the president, while critics have questioned her approach to journalists and her handling of disputed claims.

With Leavitt preparing to leave the White House at the end of August, attention will now turn to who succeeds her and whether the administration keeps the combative communications style that became closely associated with her tenure.

Sources:

The White House — Official records and press briefing material concerning Karoline Leavitt.

Associated Press — Reporting on Karoline Leavitt’s planned departure from the White House press secretary position.

The Wall Street Journal — Reporting and analysis of Leavitt’s tenure as White House press secretary.

Anthony Scaramucci’s podcast — comments concerning Karoline Leavitt and their time in the Trump administration.