JUST IN: Top White House Press Official Announces Departure
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson is leaving the Trump administration later this month, marking another shake-up inside Karoline Leavitt’s press operation.
Jackson, 29, has handled some of the administration’s most politically charged issues, including communications tied to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and Congress.
She announced her departure in a post on X, praising President Donald Trump and the team she worked alongside at the White House.
‘President Trump is the greatest President of my lifetime — it’s been a tremendous honor to work for his Administration and alongside such talented colleagues on behalf of the American people,’ Jackson wrote on X. ‘Looking forward to this next chapter!’
Jackson is heading to OnMessage Public Strategies, a branch of the Republican political firm OnMessage Inc.
The firm works with major Fortune 500 companies and advises Republican campaigns.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Lauren Bis will replace Jackson in the White House role, according to reports.
The move gives Leavitt another veteran communicator from inside the Trump administration’s policy fight, especially on immigration and homeland security issues.
Jackson’s exit follows several departures from the White House communications shop.
Sonny Joy Nelson, the former special assistant to the president and director of media affairs, left the White House in May.
Around this time last year, three other communications officials also left the administration for the private sector.
Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel Taylor Budowich, Principal Deputy White House Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields all departed government service in August and September 2025.
Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller praised Jackson in a statement to the Daily Mail, calling her a standout inside the White House’s messaging operation.
‘Abigail is a communications powerhouse, demonstrating at all times the highest degree of tenacity, integrity, professionalism and talent,’ Miller said.
Karoline Leavitt also praised Jackson’s work, describing her as a ‘workhorse’ who has ‘played an invaluable role on my team, working closely with senior administration officials to shape press coverage, and deliver President Donald Trump’s message at the highest level.’
The departure comes as Trump’s second-year team continues to see turnover across the administration.
Multiple Cabinet officials have resigned or been pushed out, including former Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard left her role in June to care for her husband, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
But Jackson’s move is less a retreat than a familiar Washington transition from the White House pressure cooker to the political and corporate messaging world.
She leaves after helping defend some of Trump’s toughest fights, from border enforcement to DOJ battles to congressional blowups.
Now Leavitt will turn to Bis, another administration spokeswoman already battle-tested on the front lines of Trump’s homeland security agenda.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
