Ex-White House Press Secretaries Join Fox News
Media operators hiring on-air talent should note that former administration communications staff are becoming a recruiting pool for cable networks.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Media
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Fox News has signed Karoline Leavitt as an on-air contributor, with the role starting November 1, 2026. The hire follows her August 2026 resignation as White House press secretary, a post she held as the youngest person ever to do so. For media operators, it reflects a pattern of former administration communications staff moving into cable news talent roles.
Why it matters
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott announced the hire in early October, and the network cited Leavitt's firsthand White House and campaign experience as the basis for it. The move places a recently departed government communications official into a paid on-air role at a major cable network.
The contributor role began November 1, 2026, after Fox News announced the hire in early October. Leavitt's background includes national press secretary work on Trump's 2024 campaign and a 2022 run for New Hampshire's 1st District congressional seat.
The players
Fox News
Fox News is a cable news network owned by Fox Corporation, and among the most-watched cable news channels in the United States.
Suzanne Scott
Suzanne Scott is the chief executive of Fox News, responsible for the network's programming and talent decisions.
Karoline Leavitt
Karoline Leavitt is a former White House press secretary who became the youngest person ever to hold that post and previously served as national press secretary for Trump's 2024 campaign.
The details
Fox News has added Leavitt as an official member of its media team, with the network pointing to her firsthand experience inside the White House and the campaign as the basis for the hire. Fox News expects authentic and sharp insight from her across its platforms. Leavitt resigned as press secretary in August, a few months after welcoming her second child in May.
Timeline
May 2026: Leavitt welcomed her second child.
August 2026: Leavitt resigned as White House press secretary.
Early October 2026: Fox News announced her hire.
November 1, 2026: Her Fox News contributor role began.
Market Landscape
Fox News has previously brought in former White House press secretaries Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kayleigh McEnany after they left government. Leavitt's contributor role continues that pattern of cable networks recruiting former administration communications staff for on-air roles.
Media operators hiring on-air talent should note that former government communications staff are a recruiting pool cable networks are actively drawing from. Teams weighing similar hires should review contributor contract terms with qualified counsel before committing.
The takeaway
Cable networks are continuing to recruit former White House communications officials for paid on-air roles, a trend worth tracking for any media business building its talent lineup. Operators considering similar contributor arrangements should have counsel review the contract structure and exclusivity terms before signing.
Further reading
For more on how cable networks staff their on-air lineups, see our Media coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ComingSoon.
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