White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is scheduled to deliver her second child next week, a White House official confirmed. The 28-year-old, who is the youngest to ever hold the position, will step away from the briefing room, though the exact length of her leave remains unclear.
Federal employees, including those in the executive branch, are generally entitled to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. However, the administration has not announced a formal replacement. Instead, a rotating lineup of officials—potentially including President Trump and Vice President Vance—will take the podium, according to an official who spoke with NewsNation, a sister network of The Hill.
Leavitt announced in December that she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, are expecting a daughter. The couple’s first child, Niko, was born in July 2024 and has occasionally appeared with his mother in the briefing room during special events. Leavitt has publiclz shared her excitement, writing on Instagram after Christmas, “2026 is going to be a great year and I am so excited to be a girl mom!”
Throughout her pregnancy, Leavitt has maintained a demanding schedule, continuing to serve as the administration’s primary spokesperson. She has not taken any significant time off, even as she reshaped the briefing landscape to prioritize “new media” voices over traditional outlets. Early last year, she introduced a designated area in the briefing room for podcasters, independent journalists, and content creators, often calling on them to ask the first questions.
Leavitt thanked Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their “support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House.” Her tenure has been marked by a shift away from legacy media, a move that aligns with broader administration efforts to bypass mainstream outlets. This strategy has drawn both praise and criticism, as seen in recent coverage of Trump’s extension of the Jones Act waiver to ease gas prices amid the Iran conflict and the ongoing debate over Trump’s Iran strategy following a ceasefire extension.
Leavitt’s pregnancy is historic: she is the first known White House press secretary to be pregnant while serving in the role. Her absence will test the administration’s ability to maintain a consistent message without a dedicated spokesperson. The rotating briefing team will include senior officials from various departments, though no permanent fill-in has been named.
The development comes as the White House navigates multiple pressing issues, including Senate GOP pressure to fund the Department of Homeland Security amid a looming shutdown threat and the opening of a Trump refund portal for importers seeking $166 billion in invalidated tariffs. Leavitt’s temporary departure adds another layer of complexity to an already busy news cycle.
Leavitt has not indicated whether she will take the full 12 weeks of leave, but her return is expected to be closely watched. Her role as a young mother in a high-pressure job has drawn attention, with many noting that her experience could set a precedent for future press secretaries.
