‘The writing on the wall’: Trump’s staff departs ahead of possible turmoil
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/23/the-writing-on-the-wall-trumps-staff-departs-ahead-of-possible-turmoil-01046424
‘The writing on the wall’: Trump’s staff departs ahead of possible turmoil
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt and his top liaison to Congress James Braid are both leaving. But the forces that made their jobs tough aren’t changing.
08/23/2026 11:00 AM EDT
President Donald Trump heads into the second half of his term with key vacancies among his senior White House staff. That means whoever comes off the bench must contend with the possibility of a Democratic-controlled Congress, a slew of subpoenas, a lingering war in the Middle East and an open Republican presidential primary.
James Braid, the top liaison to Congress, this week announced his exit. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she would depart the week before. Replacements for either have not been announced.
Though it’s not unusual for staff to depart around the midterms, Trump’s desire to run the country through a handful of close, fiercely loyal aides means each loss is more impactful than in a White House where power and responsibility are more diffuse.
These departures don’t guarantee a tougher road for the administration, but they inject a dose of uncertainty at an already tenuous time, when the president is facing a slew of challenges — both foreign and domestic.
“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,” said an official who served in Trump’s first term, who like others in this article was granted anonymity to speak candidly.
“People are thinking, ‘what are my post administration business prospects? Is it worth taking these hits every single day, being part of these battles, and how does that hurt my prospects when I go to the private sector?’” the person said.
The president is also losing two key legal hands as he girds for an onslaught of congressional oversight and potential litigation if Democrats take control on the Hill. Trump announced Friday that his pardon attorney and longtime ally Ed Martin would leave for the private sector, coming on the heels of a similar announcement regarding White House counsel Dave Warrington.
Before these departures, Trump’s second term was notable for most aides staying in their posts and faithfully executing Trump’s desires — largely without infighting or distractions.
“President Trump has built the greatest political movement in history, staffing his administration with talented, dedicated patriots who work tirelessly to execute his agenda,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said. “This movement is bigger than any one staff member, and the President’s mission to make America greater than ever before will continue unabated.”
The optics of leaving ahead of a contentious midterms battle aren’t ideal. But White House allies concede that waiting until after the election may reduce their political capital, particularly if Republicans lose one or both chambers of Congress.
One person close to the White House framed it as an issue of “marketability.”
“If you want a decent job downtown, you need to bounce now, because there are still relationships to trade on in the majority. It might be the last time clients get anything done,” the person said.
Braid has yet to publicly announce his next steps. But his last day at the White House will be Sept. 30, according to a person familiar with Braid’s plans, granted anonymity to discuss them.
Leavitt said on X that she decided to leave the White House after returning to work after the birth of her second child. She said at the time, “I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary.”
The announcement immediately sparked questions over who could replace one of the president’s most public-facing and loyal aides.
“I’ll tell you this: I don’t know why anyone would want [the press secretary job]. To use a football analogy, it’s also like coming in after Vince Lombardi won the Super Bowl for the Packers. She was so good,” said a second person close to the White House. “It’s sort of a no-win.”
The job of press secretary and director of legislative affairs “require being on the clock 24/7,” a White House official said, adding that “Karoline’s departure is tied specifically to her recently becoming a mother of two, something no one who has held the position has experienced.”
The official, granted anonymity to speak about internal thinking, said, “people who have been here since the campaign and since day one cycle out, and other qualified individuals from inside and outside the administration come in to take their place.”
Of course, there are plenty of people auditioning, but filling her job — or Braid’s — is not the same as filling her shoes.
“If you’re working with someone for multiple years and you know they’re not a leaker and you know they’re good at the job and you know they’re loyal and they are ideologically on the same team as you — it’s not easy to find someone like that,” said Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and former Bush White House aide. “And so bringing somebody else new, there’s a learning curve and a comfort curve.”
Still, some believe the personnel changes won’t make that much of a difference if only because the challenges the administration faces would be tough for any combination of staff.
“Nothing but choppy waters ahead, treacherous waters ahead,” said Chris Whipple, political analyst and a contributing writer at Vanity Fair. “But I’m not so sure that these departures are — it’s sort of we’re talking about degrees of being dead in the water — he’s dead in the water with or without them. It’s going to be ugly and unproductive and maybe even worse over the next two years.”
Daniel Barnes contributed to this report.
