White House press secretary Sarah Sanders will leave her position at the end of the month. President Donald Trump initially announced the departure on Twitter, saying that Sanders will return to her home state of Arkansas, and suggesting that she might run for governor of that state. Sanders described her stint in the role as "the honor of a lifetime" and an experience she "will treasure forever."

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders attends a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Winfield House for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during the state visit on Tuesday, June 4, in London, England.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders attends a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Winfield House for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during the state visit on Tuesday, June 4, in London, England.
Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson
Sanders talks to reporters after being interviewed on Fox News outside the White House April 29, in Washington, DC. In lieu of regular press briefings inside the White House, Sanders regularly stops to talk to reporters after being interviewed by "Fox and Friends."
Sanders talks to reporters after being interviewed on Fox News outside the White House April 29, in Washington, DC. In lieu of regular press briefings inside the White House, Sanders regularly stops to talk to reporters after being interviewed by "Fox and Friends."
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump greets Sanders as he speaks to supporters at a Make America Great Again rally on Saturday, April 27, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
President Trump greets Sanders as he speaks to supporters at a Make America Great Again rally on Saturday, April 27, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Darren Hauck/Getty Images
White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow and Sanders prepare to board Air Force One for a trip to Texas with President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, April 10.
White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow and Sanders prepare to board Air Force One for a trip to Texas with President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, April 10.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times/Redux
Sanders is interviewed by Fox News outside the White House on January 23, in Washington, DC.
Sanders is interviewed by Fox News outside the White House on January 23, in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Sanders attends the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2018, in Washington, DC.
Sanders attends the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2018, in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi/WireImage
Sanders and her sons, William and George, take questions during "Take Your Kids To Work Day" at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
Sanders and her sons, William and George, take questions during "Take Your Kids To Work Day" at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, April 26, 2018.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
Sanders fields questions at a daily briefing at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
Sanders fields questions at a daily briefing at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
Sanders, International Olympic Committee executive board member Angela Ruggiero and Ivanka Trump attend the Snowboard - Men's Big Air Final on day 15 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Saturday, February 24, 2018, in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.
Sanders, International Olympic Committee executive board member Angela Ruggiero and Ivanka Trump attend the Snowboard - Men's Big Air Final on day 15 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Saturday, February 24, 2018, in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Sanders conducts a daily news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
Sanders conducts a daily news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Wishbone the turkey is put on display for members of the news media with Sanders on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 in Washington.
Wishbone the turkey is put on display for members of the news media with Sanders on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Wearing a borrowed US Army jacket, Sanders updates reporters on President Donald Trump's failed attempt, pre-empted by weather, to visit Observation Post Ouellette along the Demilitarized Zone in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea on November 8, 2017.
Wearing a borrowed US Army jacket, Sanders updates reporters on President Donald Trump's failed attempt, pre-empted by weather, to visit Observation Post Ouellette along the Demilitarized Zone in the truce village of Panmunjom dividing North Korea and South Korea on November 8, 2017.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Sanders looks on as Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert speaks at the daily briefing at the White House on Thursday, August 31, 2017. On Thursday, Sanders said President Donald Trump would donate $1 million in personal money to Hurricane Harvey storm relief efforts.
Sanders looks on as Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert speaks at the daily briefing at the White House on Thursday, August 31, 2017. On Thursday, Sanders said President Donald Trump would donate $1 million in personal money to Hurricane Harvey storm relief efforts.
Al Drago/The New York Times/Redux
Sanders holds up a sign signaling one more question as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after a security briefing with members of his national security team at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday, August 10, 2017. Earlier on Thursday, Trump refused to back down from his threat to rain down "fire and fury" on North Korea if it endangers the United States, despite bipartisan criticism -- and he argued that perhaps he was not tough enough.
Sanders holds up a sign signaling one more question as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after a security briefing with members of his national security team at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday, August 10, 2017. Earlier on Thursday, Trump refused to back down from his threat to rain down "fire and fury" on North Korea if it endangers the United States, despite bipartisan criticism -- and he argued that perhaps he was not tough enough.
Al Drago/The New York Times/Redux
Then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walk out of the White House on Friday, July 21, 2017, in Washington. The White House announced that Sanders would be promoted to press secretary after Spicer announced his resignation.
Then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walk out of the White House on Friday, July 21, 2017, in Washington. The White House announced that Sanders would be promoted to press secretary after Spicer announced his resignation.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Sanders and Anthony Scaramucci conduct the daily White House press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Friday, July 21, 2017. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer quit after it was announced that Trump hired Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier and longtime supporter, to the position of White House communications director.
Sanders and Anthony Scaramucci conduct the daily White House press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Friday, July 21, 2017. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer quit after it was announced that Trump hired Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier and longtime supporter, to the position of White House communications director.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks to the media during the daily press briefing at the White House on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Washington.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks to the media during the daily press briefing at the White House on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Washington.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders conducts a daily news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders conducts a daily news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
Alex Wong/Getty Images