World
Karoline Leavitt Just Had Her Baby, When Is She Coming Back to the White House?
Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday that she gave birth to her second child on May 1st. The baby girl, named Viviana, goes by “Vivi” at home.
“On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love,” Leavitt wrote in an Instagram post alongside a photo of herself holding her newborn daughter.
She described the baby as “perfect and healthy” and said her older son, Nicholas, known as “Niko,” is adjusting to life with a new baby sister at home. “We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble,” she added.
A Historic First
Leavitt, 28, is already the youngest White House press secretary in American history and one of only eight women ever to hold the role. With the birth of Viviana, she adds another milestone to that list, becoming the first person to give birth while actively serving in the position.
She welcomed her first child, Niko, during the 2024 presidential campaign, meaning she has navigated two pregnancies in two of the most high-pressure political environments imaginable.
Her Final Briefing Before Maternity Leave
Leavitt’s last White House press briefing before heading out on maternity leave took place on April 27, just two days after the alleged attempted assassination of President Trump and other officials at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. She told reporters that day that she felt it was the right call to brief the press given the gravity of what had just happened.
She signed off with a touch of humor. “I hope and pray that this is the last time I speak to you for some time until after my maternity leave,” she said at the close of the briefing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped in to conduct the White House press briefing in her absence the following Tuesday. How long Leavitt will be on maternity leave has not been announced.
The Mentalist Who Called It
In a quirky footnote to the story, Oz Pearlman, the mentalist who had been scheduled to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before the shooting interrupted the evening, revealed that he had correctly guessed the name of Leavitt’s baby just before the incident took place outside the ballroom.
“I believe the name was Vivian,” he told ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl after the dinner, describing his prediction.
More Babies on the Way in Washington
Leavitt is not the only one in the upper reaches of the current administration expecting a new arrival. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance are expecting their fourth child in July.
