Press Secretary Sarah Sanders Leaving at the End of June

BY Spectrum News Staff Washington

UPDATED 5:15 PM ET Jun. 13, 2019 PUBLISHED 4:14 PM ET Jun. 13, 2019 PUBLISHED 4:14 PM EDT Jun. 13, 2019

WASHINGTON — Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary for much of President Donald Trump's administration, is leaving.

Trump tweets that White House Press Secretary Sanders is leaving
She has been with Trump's camp since his presidential campaign
Trump tweeted that he hopes she runs for governor of Arkansas

Trump tweeted the announcement on Twitter on Thursday, saying Sanders was leaving at the end of June.

Trump called her "a very special person with extraordinary talents."

Sanders had been with Trump since his campaign. She took over as press secretary after Sean Spicer left.

"This has truly been the honor of a lifetime," Sanders said. "I couldn't be prouder to have had the opportunity to serve my country and particularly to work for this president. He has accomplished so much in these 2 1/2 years, and it's truly been something I will treasure forever."

....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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019

Her tenure was marked by tension with the White House press corps. Regular press briefings have stopped; the last press briefing was more than three months ago.

Sanders was interviewed during special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Investigators determined she'd admitted to making an unfounded claim about the firing of then-FBI Director James Comey.

There's been no immediate announcement of her future plans or who may take her position. In his Twitter thread, Trump said he hoped she runs for Arkansas governor.