Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, has once again found herself at the center of a media firestorm—but this time, it’s not over a policy gaffe or a viral press briefing. Instead, it’s her pregnancy announcement, made just after Christmas 2025, that has set social media ablaze and sparked a flurry of speculation about her future in the West Wing. Leavitt, 28, and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, are expecting their second child—a baby girl due in May 2026. The news, shared via a heartfelt Instagram post featuring her baby bump and Christmas cheer, quickly morphed from a personal celebration into a national guessing game: Who, if anyone, would take over her post during her maternity leave?
Online chatter was swift and, at times, frenzied. Some wondered aloud on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok whether Leavitt would step aside, even jokingly tossing out names like Abigail Jackson, Katie Miller, and Laura Loomer as possible successors. Others, referencing her famously short maternity leave after her first child, Niko, in July 2024, wagered she’d barely take a break at all. The age gap between Leavitt and Riccio—he’s 32 years her senior—also drew its share of attention, as did the sheer intensity of her work ethic. As reported by The Economic Times, speculation was so rampant that it quickly reached the ears of the Trump family itself.
Lara Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law and a prominent public figure in her own right, took to Fox & Friends Weekend to set the record straight. Addressing host Lisa Boothe, Lara Trump was unequivocal: “I’ve seen some stories out there…people saying ‘who’s next in line?’ Nobody’s next in line. It’s Karoline. She can do everything.” She went on to praise Leavitt’s dedication, recalling, “She did this, by the way, during the Trump campaign. She was pregnant and delivered her son Niko, and was back to work within a couple of days, on television fighting to ensure that President Trump got elected.”
Lara Trump’s comments, reported by both Daily Mail and The Economic Times, weren’t just supportive—they were a full-throated endorsement of Leavitt’s continued role. “Karoline Leavitt is a machine. She’s incredible. And she’s going nowhere,” Lara Trump declared. She even joked that viewers should expect to see Leavitt “absolutely schooling the fake news media” while eight or nine months pregnant. The message was clear: the administration isn’t shopping for a replacement, and Leavitt’s job is secure.
Leavitt herself responded with gratitude, sharing a video of Lara Trump’s interview on X and writing, “Thank you Lara! 🥰” Her supporters echoed the sentiment, with comments like “Karoline, you’re a real-life Wonder Woman!” and “You are a joy to watch! Congratulations on baby girl! May you be blessed!” flooding her social media feeds. In her original Instagram announcement, Leavitt wrote, “My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. 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.”
But the conversation quickly shifted from personal congratulations to workplace culture. Both Leavitt and Lara Trump highlighted the White House’s pro-family environment, crediting President Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with fostering a supportive atmosphere for working parents. According to The Economic Times, Wiles has made a point of scheduling meetings to accommodate family needs—like allowing parents to drop off their kids at school. Leavitt, for her part, told Daily Mail she was “grateful to the White House and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for fostering a pro-family environment.”
This isn’t the first time Leavitt’s work-life balance—or lack thereof—has made headlines. During Trump’s third presidential campaign, she gave birth to Niko and returned to work within just four days, a decision that stunned even her closest colleagues. “Knowing I was going to have a baby in the middle of a presidential campaign—which, I found out, is no easy thing to do—they couldn’t have been more accepting and welcoming of me,” she told The Conservateur in 2024. Leavitt admitted, “I had a feeling that I would be the type of person who would want to get back right away.”
Her workaholic tendencies are well documented. As she recounted to Daily Mail, “It’s very difficult to make plans in this job. My husband and I had three different mini weekend getaway vacations this summer. All three got canceled due to foreign policy events.” The unpredictability of her schedule—and her willingness to roll with it—has only fueled perceptions that she isn’t likely to take a lengthy leave this time around either.
Still, the speculation online has been relentless. A TikTok video joking about her pregnancy and possible replacements was reposted to X, racking up more than 545,000 views. Comments were sharply divided: some insisted Leavitt would power through as she did before, while others used the opportunity to poke fun at her personal life. But amidst the noise, one thing remained consistent—official word from the White House and its senior staff has been firm. As reported by Daily Mail and confirmed by a senior White House official, Leavitt will remain in her position, making her the first pregnant press secretary in U.S. history. There are no plans for a permanent replacement.
Leavitt’s own words reinforce the narrative of continuity. She recently told Daily Mail she plans to stay put for the full four years, calling the role a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Her supporters, both inside and outside the administration, seem content to take her at her word. As Lara Trump put it, “She can do everything.”
As the due date approaches, all eyes will be on Leavitt—not just to see how she manages her dual roles as a mother and press secretary, but also to watch how the White House continues to navigate the intersection of family and high-stakes politics. For now, though, the message from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is clear: Karoline Leavitt is here to stay, and her growing family is just one more chapter in an already remarkable career.
