White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced she is expecting her second child, a baby girl, due in May 2026. The news has brought her previous candid remarks about the challenges and rewards of being a working mother back into the spotlight.
A Christmas Announcement and a Growing Family
On Friday, the 28-year-old senior aide shared the happy news on Instagram. In a festive post, she posed by a Christmas tree in a white dress, cradling her baby bump. Leavitt revealed she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, are expecting a daughter, describing the baby as "the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for."
The couple already have a one-year-old son, Niko, who is set to become a big brother. In her social media caption, Leavitt expressed her family's joy and her deep personal gratitude. "My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth," she wrote.
She also thanked former President Donald Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, praising the "pro-family environment" within the current White House administration.
Past Comments on Work-Life Balance Resurface
As Leavitt prepares to become a mother of two, her past interviews detailing her experience of returning to work shortly after her first child's birth have regained attention. In a 2024 conversation with The Conservateur, she spoke openly about the difficulties and the supportive culture she found while working on Trump's presidential campaign.
Notably, Leavitt returned to her role as national press secretary for the campaign just days after giving birth to Niko in July 2024. This decision followed the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. "I felt compelled to be present in this historic moment," she explained at the time. "The president literally put his life on the line to win this election. The least I could do is get back to work quickly."
She had worked up until the final days of her pregnancy and described the campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach as exceptionally welcoming to parents. "We joke that on Saturdays, it’s bring-your-kid-to-work day," she said, noting that other senior staff also had young children.
The Emotional Reality of a Demanding Role
Despite her clear dedication and the supportive environment, Leavitt did not shy away from discussing the emotional toll. "Leaving the baby every day to go to work, it does break your heart," she confessed in the 2024 interview. "It’s incredibly challenging emotionally, physically, spiritually."
She recounted late-night calls with a colleague where both their babies could be heard crying in the background, calling it "a crazy but very rewarding thing all at the same time." Her hope, she shared, is that her son Niko will one day be proud of what she accomplished during his infancy.
As she looks ahead to 2026 and the arrival of her daughter, Karoline Leavitt's journey continues to highlight the complex realities of navigating a top-tier political career while embracing the profound responsibilities of motherhood.
