White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced the birth of her second child, a baby girl named Viviana, affectionately called Vivi. The 28-year-old shared the news on social media on Thursday, revealing that her daughter was born on 1 May.
Leavitt wrote that her family's hearts 'instantly exploded with love' and described the newborn as 'perfect and healthy'. She added that her son, Nicolas, who will turn two in July, is 'enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble'.
The press secretary, who is married to 60-year-old real estate developer Nicolas Riccio, has been on maternity leave from her White House role. However, she briefly returned to the podium after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on 24 April, which she attended.
Her last briefing before taking leave was on 27 April, during which she criticised Democrats and the American press for the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the dinner. She also condemned late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel for joking that First Lady Melania Trump had 'the glow of an expectant widow' days before the shooting.
In Leavitt's absence, other senior White House officials are filling in at the press briefing room. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first to stand in, describing the session as 'chaos' as multiple reporters shouted questions.
