Karoline Leavitt invited as a guest on ABC's 'The View' after leaving White House role

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has been invited as a guest on ABC's "The View," according to a CNN report Thursday. CNN's Brian Stelter reported on the news in response to a Daily Mail rumor suggesting "Karoline Leavitt in secret talks to join TV’s most controversial show." Stelter clarified that Leavitt has only been invited as a one-time guest rather than as a host or guest host. "She would not be a guest host on the talk show or join in a more official capacity," Stelter wrote. "All six co-hosts of 'The View' are returning for the new season that begins in September. And while the show occasionally features guest hosts, that’s not what the outreach to Leavitt was about, the ABC source said." TRUMP SAYS KAROLINE LEAVITT WILL LEAVE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROLE, BECOME OUTSIDE ADVISOR Fox News Digital later confirmed the report. The news followed Leavitt's last official day as White House press secretary after serving the Trump administration since the start of President Donald Trump's second term. Speaking with "Fox & Friends," Leavitt revealed that she has been advising Trump on choosing her replacement and said that she plans to spend her time with her two young children. ABC MORE CAUTIOUS OF BOOKING CANDIDATES ON 'THE VIEW' AMID FCC PRESSURE, DISNEY'S FIRST AMENDMENT LAWSUIT SAYS "It has been the adventure of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to him for believing in me and allowing me to serve in this role over the last 20 months, and now being very understanding as a boss and a friend, that it's time for me to take a step back so I can spend more time with my two beautiful children," Leavitt said. "Of course, I have a two-year-old and a four-month-old. They're just at a critical time in their life where they need their mom home a little bit more, so I look forward to spending more time with them, but continuing to serve the president as a top advisor on the outside." The rumors also followed a report last month that suggested "The View" was easing back on hosting political guests since the FCC launched an investigation into the program and ABC. The investigation was launched after the show hosted then-Texas Democratic Senate primary candidate James Talarico in what the FCC viewed as a violation of the equal time rule. ‘THE VIEW’ CO-HOSTS SAY THEY WANT MORE REPUBLICANS ON THE SHOW, CLAIM THEY'RE TOO ‘SCARED’ TO COME ON Though ABC and its parent company, Disney, have argued that the show is "bona fide news" and not beholden to the equal time rule, the program hasn't hosted anyone running in a competitive midterm race since Talarico in February. However, "The View" can host political figures outside a competitive race. In June, the ABC talk show hosted Vice President JD Vance as part of his book tour for his spiritual memoir, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith." CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Leavitt's appearance would also be a significant move by the show known for its heavily liberal hosts and guests. A study from the Media Research Center found that in 2025, out of 341 guests who appeared on "The View," only two were "conservative."