Hannity began by congratulating Leavitt on her family before dropping his idea for a potential show — complete with a name.
“Well, congratulations on your two beautiful children,” host Sean Hannity began.
“I saw pictures of them recently, and I know you’re happy. I know it was a hard decision. We’ll talk about it on the podcast next week,” Hannity continued before suggesting a new show on Fox for Leavitt.
“How does it sound: ‘The Briefing with Karoline Leavitt?’ How do you like the sound of that?”
Leavitt did not announce a deal or confirm that negotiations with Fox were underway.
But she also didn’t shut down Hannity’s suggestion.
“Well, Sean, we have had our segment before, you and me. I will continue to join your show anytime you want, that’s for sure. But thank you. My babies are cute, I will say so myself.”
For now, viewers shouldn’t interpret the playful exchange as confirmation that “The Briefing with Karoline Leavitt” is actually coming to Fox News. The network has not announced a new program or hosting agreement involving Leavitt.
Still, a television career would hardly be an unusual destination for a former White House press secretary.
Leavitt already spent much of her political career operating in front of cameras, defending Trump and promoting his agenda through television interviews before becoming the administration’s chief public spokeswoman.
She also made history when she took over the White House podium at 27, becoming the youngest press secretary in U.S. history.
Her departure from the administration came after the birth of her second child, daughter Viviana, in May.
After returning from maternity leave, Leavitt concluded that the relentless demands of serving as White House press secretary were difficult to reconcile with raising two young children.
“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, 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,” Leavitt said when announcing her decision.
President Trump announced in August that Leavitt would leave the administration while remaining part of his political operation as a top outside adviser. Her final day as White House press secretary was Aug. 27.
Her exit did not mean a retreat from politics.
Leavitt has remained publicly involved with Trump’s political movement and has continued making media appearances after leaving the West Wing. Trump said when announcing her departure that she would remain one of his top outside advisers and continue as an influential Republican voice.
That background could make television a natural fit.
Before becoming press secretary, Leavitt worked in Trump’s first administration, served as communications director for Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, ran for Congress in New Hampshire and worked with the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC.
She later became Trump’s national press secretary during the 2024 presidential campaign before moving into one of the most visible jobs in Washington.
And there is plenty of precedent for White House press secretaries making the leap into cable news.
Dana Perino went from serving as President George W. Bush’s press secretary to becoming a major Fox News personality, including as a co-host of “The Five.”
Kayleigh McEnany, who served as Trump’s press secretary during his first administration, similarly joined Fox after leaving the White House and became a co-host of “Outnumbered.”
There is another notable twist to Hannity’s proposed title.
“The Briefing with Karoline Leavitt” bears a resemblance to the television branding used by Jen Psaki, President Joe Biden’s former White House press secretary, who also transitioned from the briefing room into cable television after leaving government.
Whether Hannity was simply having some fun on air or testing the waters for something bigger remains unclear.
What is clear is that Leavitt isn’t disappearing from television.
She specifically told Hannity that she would continue appearing on his program whenever he wanted her.
For someone who spent nearly two years sparring with reporters, defending Trump and carrying the administration’s message from arguably the most famous podium in American politics, moving behind a cable-news desk would represent familiar territory — only this time, Leavitt would potentially be asking the questions.
For now, though, “The Briefing with Karoline Leavitt” remains Hannity’s suggestion, not an announced Fox News program.
But after Thursday night’s exchange, the possibility of Leavitt making television a major part of her post-White House career is officially generating attention.
