Karoline Leavitt says she has PTSD: What it takes to be Trump’s press secretary and how it affects her mental health

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in US history, has spoken openly about the personal toll of working under President Donald Trump, revealing that the intense nature of her job has left her struggling with symptoms she describes as post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, the 28-year-old said her condition is not caused by hostile media interactions, but by the constant uncertainty and pressure of her schedule.

“Honestly, I have PTSD about making plans, so I just don’t,” she admitted to the Daily Mail.

Leavitt said the unpredictable pace of her role has made it difficult to maintain a normal personal life. “Definitely, it’s very difficult to make plans in this job.”

She explained how even simple vacations have been disrupted. “My husband and I had three different mini weekend getaway vacations this summer. All three got cancelled due to foreign policy events,” she said. Leavitt is married to Nicholas Riccio, a 60-year-old real estate developer.

She also recalled cancelling a planned trip to New Hampshire after a last-minute event appeared on Trump’s calendar. “But that’s part of the job, and it’s what makes it fun and challenging and keeps every day new. And it’s, you know, it’s temporary. We’re one year down. We got three to go,” she said, referring to the president’s four-year term.

A nonstop routine

Leavitt described her role as a constant cycle of reacting to new developments, calling it a “whack-a-mole” job. She said her day begins before the “sun comes up”.

On briefing days, she wakes up at 5 am and often works out at 5.30 am. “I come straight to the gym here… Usually, on briefing days, the first one in the West Wing,” she said, adding that she prefers the gym over pilates.

Her workday starts with reading every newspaper delivered to the West Wing, a habit she picked up from former press secretary Dana Perino. She then monitors major cable news channels, with several TVs running constantly in her office. Leavitt also said she handles around 300 press requests each day.

Reflecting on the role, she said the responsibility was both demanding and rewarding. “Demands of being the White House press secretary are as extraordinary as the honour of holding the post,” she said, adding that being “press secretary, especially for President Trump, is a 24/7 job.”

“Even when I’m home, I spend a lot of time on the phone or checking the news,” she added, noting that she sometimes calls cabinet members or even Trump while off duty.

Despite the strain, Leavitt shared a message for young women aspiring to succeed. “There is no substitute for hard work.”

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental health condition that can develop after exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, violence, abuse or other distressing experiences. Symptoms lasting more than a month may include intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating and depression. Experts say the condition is treatable through therapy, support networks, coping strategies and medication.

Trump’s previous press secretaries

During his first term, Trump appointed four press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany. All served less than a year except Sanders, who held the role from July 2017 to June 2019.

Leavitt has now completed over 300 days in office, surpassing three of her predecessors and marking a longer tenure than most of those who came before her.