White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is due to welcome her second child in May, and many are curious who will replace her temporarily and how long she’ll take off
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is expecting a baby girl and will take her maternity leave soon(Image: Getty Images)
Karoline Leavitt will soon welcome her second child, prompting widespread online interest regarding the duration of her upcoming maternity leave.
In December, the 28-year-old White House press secretary revealed that she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, are expecting their second child in May 2026. Leavitt holds the distinction of being both the youngest individual ever to serve in the position and the first pregnant press secretary.
The pair welcomed their son, Nicholas Robert Riccio, in July 2024, and tied the knot six months later, just two days prior to President Donald Trump‘s second inauguration in January 2025. Based on Leavitt’s second pregnancy announcement on Instagram, both the president and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have been supportive, and she commended them “for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House.”
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Leavitt and her real estate developer husband have a unique 32-year age difference, with the press secretary previously commenting, “I mean it’s a very atypical love story, but he’s incredible,” on The Megyn Kelly Show in February 2025.
Given her position as a working mother in a demanding role, many are questioning how long she’ll be absent from the White House press briefing room. With Leavitt’s due date approaching for her baby girl, we’re examining possible substitutes for her position during her maternity absence, the expected length of her leave, and additional details.
How long was Karoline Leavitt’s maternity leave for her first baby?
Leavitt and Riccio’s son, nicknamed “Niko,” arrived on July 10, 2024. A mere three days following his birth, Trump survived a July 13 assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
She chose to abbreviate her maternity leave after taking just four days off to resume her position as national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
After witnessing Trump’s attempted assassination broadcast live, Leavitt recounted the experience in an October 2024 interview with The Conservateur, saying, “I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work.'”
Who could replace Karoline Leavitt while she’s on maternity leave?
While no official announcement has been made regarding Leavitt’s replacement during her maternity leave this time, speculation continues about potential candidates. The leading contenders for the position are Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers, and Regional Press Secretary Liz Huston.
Kelly, originally from Fairfax, Virginia, has contributed to numerous Republican campaigns. Her LinkedIn profile indicates she served as communications director for the U.S. House of Representatives and national press secretary for the Republican National Convention.
Kelly also has experience in beauty pageants, having claimed the 2019 Miss State Fair of Virginia title, which she leveraged to promote youth political engagement, according to the Fairfax Times.
Rogers previously served as the press assistant to the Republican National Committee and was a guest greeter at Fox News. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a graduate of Clemson University’s College of Business.
Huston, a graduate of Indiana University, formerly worked at cybersecurity firm StateRAMP, where she held the position of program manager following an internship.
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When is Karoline Leavitt’s due date?
Leavitt is expecting her second child, a girl, in May. She recently celebrated her baby shower at Trump’s northern Virginia golf club last week.
“My beautiful friends threw me a beautiful baby shower, and I couldn’t be more grateful,” Leavitt shared in an Instagram post. “I feel blessed to have so many strong and loving women in my life, and can’t believe we will welcome our little lady into the world in a few weeks.”
Notable women from the Trump administration were present at her baby shower, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with 50 other White House officials and individuals associated with Trump. Members of Leavitt’s team from the White House press office attended, including top contenders for her role.
