White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt welcomed a baby girl just days after she was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during an active shooter scare.
Leavitt, 28, announced Thursday that she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, welcomed their daughter Vivian, nicknamed “Vivi,” on May 1.
“She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister,” Leavitt wrote. “We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.”
The new arrival joins the couple’s son, Nicholas Robert Riccio, nicknamed “Niko,” who is 21 months old.
Leavitt’s maternity leave began amid a chaotic stretch at the White House. Her last scheduled day before stepping away was expected to be Friday, April 24, but she attended the Correspondents’ Dinner that weekend and ended up back in crisis mode when the event was disrupted by an active shooter situation.
She later returned to the briefing room for a last-minute press briefing Monday, April 27, condemning political violence and taking aim at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, before resuming leave ahead of her due date.
On May 1st, Viviana aka “Vivi” joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love. 💕
She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.
Thank you to… pic.twitter.com/wM1P1zEGsa
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) May 7, 2026
Politico reported in late April that Leavitt is expected to return to the podium after maternity leave and that the White House does not plan to name a formal replacement. The outlet reported that Cabinet officials, including Vice President JD Vance and potentially President Donald Trump, could handle press briefings while she is out.
Karoline Leavitt first revealed her pregnancy in December, posting photos in front of a Christmas tree and announcing a May due date.
“The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for – a baby girl coming in May 2026.☺️,” Leavitt wrote at the time. “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. 🥹.”
Leavitt remained in her role throughout her pregnancy, becoming the first pregnant White House press secretary, according to published reports.
She and Riccio, a real estate developer, got engaged during the Christmas holiday in 2023 and welcomed their son on July 10, 2024. Leavitt later said she returned quickly to work during Trump’s 2024 campaign after the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’ ” she told The Conservateur in an October 2024 interview.
Leavitt has not said how long she plans to remain on maternity leave this time before returning to the White House.
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