Trump says longtime ally and press secretary Sarah Sanders leaving White House, names no replacement

WASHINGTON (CBS) — White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is leaving the White House, President Trump tweeted Thursday afternoon. She is leaving at the end of the month, and Mr. Trump suggested she would do well to run for governor in Arkansas. 

“After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas,” the president wrote. “She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!”

Sanders has served in the White House since the beginning of Mr. Trump’s presidency, taking over for Sean Spicer when he left that role. 

CBS News reported exactly a year ago that Sanders had been telling friends she intended to leave the administration at the end of the year, but that timeline was drawn out. 

White House press briefings became less and less frequent under Sanders. It’s unclear if that will change with anyone who replaces her. 

It isn’t immediately clear who will replace her. 

The job of White House press secretary is challenging under any presidency — but arguably, particularly under Mr. Trump, who oftentimes contradicts his own staff on Twitter or in gaggles with reporters. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.