Camilla Jessen
Why Karoline Leavitt’s baby news went viral.
Karoline Leavitt has announced that she is expecting her second child, but it was not the pregnancy itself that captured public attention.
Leavitt, 28, made history as the youngest White House press secretary.
She shares an 18-month-old son, Nicholas “Niko” Riccio, with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60.
According to People, the couple became engaged during the 2023 holiday season and welcomed their first child in July 2024. They married in January 2025.
The reveal
Leavitt shared the news on Instagram with a series of holiday photos. In one image, she stands beside a Christmas tree wearing a white sweater dress, her hand resting on her stomach.
In the caption, Leavitt wrote that she and her husband are expecting a baby girl in May 2026.
She described the pregnancy as “the greatest Christmas gift” and said she felt deep gratitude for motherhood, calling it “the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.” She added that the couple was excited to watch their son become a big brother.
A political turn
The tone of the post shifted when Leavitt extended thanks beyond her family. She publicly praised President Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, saying she was grateful for their support and for fostering what she called a “pro-family environment” in the White House.
That line quickly became the focus of online discussion.
One commenter sarcastically asked whether the baby was Trump’s.
Others accused Leavitt of politicizing a family milestone or questioned her praise of the president, citing Trump’s past controversies.
Some also pointed out that Leavitt’s first child was born before her marriage, arguing that this conflicted with the administration’s emphasis on traditional family values.
Loyalty under scrutiny
Leavitt’s close alignment with Trump has drawn attention before.
Just days after giving birth to her first child, she returned to work following the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. She later said she felt “compelled” to return, describing the moment as historic.
According to Fox News, Leavitt is now the first pregnant press secretary to actively serve in the role. She has said that many of her colleagues in the West Wing have young children and that there is strong internal support for working parents.
Personal news, public reaction
The pregnancy announcement comes shortly after Leavitt’s family was mentioned in unrelated headlines, when the mother of her nephew and godson was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in November.
The White House has not commented publicly on that case.
Sources: People, Fox News; Facebook; The Conservateur
