White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Announces Second Pregnancy, Plans to Remain at Podium
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Friday that she is expecting her second child, revealing in a social media post that she and her husband are anticipating a baby girl due in May 2026. Leavitt, 28, shared the news in an Instagram post published December 26, featuring photos with her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, and their young son. In the caption, Leavitt described the pregnancy as “the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for,” writing that she and her husband are “thrilled to grow our family.”
“My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood,” Leavitt wrote, calling the experience “the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.”
Remaining in the Role and the Optics That Come With It
According to senior White House officials, Leavitt plans to continue serving as press secretary throughout her pregnancy, a decision that would make her the first known sitting White House press secretary to carry out daily briefings while pregnant. Leavitt publicly credited President Donald Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for what she described as a “pro-family environment” within the West Wing.
“Nearly all of my West Wing colleagues have babies and young children,” Leavitt said, adding that staff members support one another while working for what she called “the greatest president ever.”
The remarks mirror broader messaging from the administration emphasizing family values, a narrative that has drawn criticism from advocates who point to limited federal protections for working parents outside elite political and professional circles.
A Pattern of Rapid Returns to Work
Leavitt’s announcement also revived attention to her first pregnancy. Her son, Nicholas “Niko” Riccio, was born in July 2024, just days before the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At the time, Leavitt returned to work within days of giving birth, later stating that the political moment compelled her to shorten her maternity leave.
“The president literally put his life on the line,” she said at the time. “The least I could do is get back to work.”
The decision was praised by Trump allies and campaign supporters, while labor advocates noted the contrast between Leavitt’s access to institutional flexibility and the lack of guaranteed paid leave for most American workers.
Personal Life, Public Scrutiny
Leavitt is married to Riccio, a 60-year-old real estate developer, a 32-year age gap that has drawn public attention since the couple wed in January 2025, shortly before Trump’s second inauguration. Leavitt has previously referred to the relationship as “atypical,” describing Riccio as a supportive partner during what she has called the most intense periods of her political career. As the administration heads into a politically volatile 2026, Leavitt’s pregnancy will unfold under the dual pressures of public scrutiny and daily political combat, a dynamic that highlights both the visibility of women in power and the unresolved realities of work-family balance in American politics.
