President Donald Trump is bracing for further departures from his top team as the midterms approach, with one former insider saying staffers are considering their next moves because they “see the writing on the wall,” according to a report. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her resignation earlier this month and Director of Legislative Affairs James Braid, White House Counsel Dave Warrington and U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin have since said they are likewise heading for the exit.
More are expected to follow, with West Wing staffers reportedly weighing their options in anticipation of Democrats seizing control of Congress and launching investigations into the administration’s conduct and in light of the unpopular war with Iran and the prospect of an upcoming Republican primary to choose the party’s next presidential nominee. 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?’” Another person close to the administration told the outlet that many were expecting a frustrating second half to Trump’s term, with his legislative initiatives unlikely to pass and congressional subpoenas pouring in. The president has so far relied on a tight circle of trusted associates this term, which saw comparatively little turnover in 2025 other than the ousting of his original national security adviser Mike Waltz over the “Signalgate” scandal.
However, the dismissal of homeland security secretary Kristi Noem in March was quickly followed by the departures of attorney general Pam Bondi and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Trump recently raged publicly at U.S. Jeanine Pirro, suggesting she might be next, and promised to “hunt down” the “leakers” who told reporters about an alleged confrontation between himself and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David concerning the depletion of munitions stockpiles.
The administration has yet to announce successors to the quartet known to be leaving, with Leavitt considered the most difficult to replace as the public face of Trump’s agenda. The president has praised his outgoing press secretary, known for her combative encounters with journalists, for bringing a stability to the role he had not been able to find during his first time. It’s those lips, the way they move.
They move like she’s a machine gun.” Over the weekend, he claimed to have had numerous applications for the job because Leavitt had made it “glamorous.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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