White House press secretary Sarah Sanders to leave job at end of month

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that press secretary Sarah Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of this month.

The White House press secretary Sarah Sanders [File photo: VCG]

Trump made the announcement in a pair of tweets, adding that Sanders will return to Arkansas, her home state.

"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," the president wrote.

He has not named a replacement for Sanders.

Sanders, 36, is the third woman to have served as White House press secretary and is one of Trump's closest and most loyal aides.

Speaking to an event at the White House on Thursday afternoon, Trump said that Sanders will join the private sector.

Sanders, who later spoke briefly at the podium, called her tenure "truly the most special experience."

Daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders was a senior adviser for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, managing its communications.

After Trump's election, Sanders was named to the position of deputy White House press secretary. She was promoted to press secretary in July 2017 following the exit of Sean Spicer.

During her tenure, there has been a decline in the number of White House press briefings.

Sanders has not held a formal briefing since March 11 but often given press gaggles on the White House driveway after she is interviewed by Fox News Channel or other TV news outlets.

She has also been accused of telling lies to reporters, which she has denied.