NBC host Jimmy Fallon turned White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s surprise resignation into Wednesday night comedy, connecting her departure to President Donald Trump’s covert escape from a Turkish airport — but the studio audience at “The Tonight Show” couldn’t wait for the punchline.
The NBC host opened his Wednesday night monologue by returning to Trump’s food container gambit. A night earlier, Fallon had arrived in a fake shipping container, ridiculing the 80-year-old president for concealing himself inside such a container at a Turkish airfield on July 8 to evade a potential Iranian assassination threat. In Wednesday’s follow-up, Fallon pointed out that when Trump was covertly moved to a second plane departing the NATO summit in Ankara, he left behind key officials such as Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who remained on Air Force One as decoys along with the press.
Audience Erupts Before the Joke Lands
Fallon had barely begun discussing Leavitt’s departure when a single audience member let out a loud cheer — before the host could deliver his joke. Others quickly joined the celebration, though a few groaned at the interruption. Fallon laughed for several moments before regaining his composure and continuing.
Once recovered, Fallon joked that Leavitt was “definitely one of the staffers left on Air Force One.” He then quipped that she’s “moving on to an easier job working as the press secretary for Taylor Farms lettuce,” referencing the food poisoning outbreak that has put the fresh produce company under scrutiny.
In reality, Leavitt was on maternity leave at the time of the July 8 Ankara incident.
Trump Announces Departure on Truth Social
The jokes came hours after President Trump announced Leavitt’s impending departure on Truth Social. Trump said Leavitt would leave at month’s end to focus on her young children and family, a choice he respected, and that she would stay on as a top outside advisor and influential Republican Party voice heading into the midterms.
Leavitt, 28, released her own statement on X, calling the role “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She was 27 when she took the position, making her the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May, and was on maternity leave during the Ankara airport episode.
Leavitt said that after returning to the White House following her daughter’s birth, she realized she couldn’t be the best mother to her two young children while giving the press secretary role the constant time, energy and attention it required, leading her to resign and begin a new chapter while remaining a vocal MAGA and Republican Party advocate.
No Successor Named as Speculation Builds
The White House has not announced a replacement. Sources told the Daily Beast that MAGA political commentator Scott Jennings is considered a leading candidate for the press secretary position, though no formal announcement has been made.
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.