White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Welcomes Daughter

Key facts

• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the birth of her daughter, Viviana, on May 1st.
• Viviana is Leavitt's second child with husband Nicholas Riccio.
• Leavitt is the first White House press secretary to give birth while in office.
• Marco Rubio conducted the White House press briefing on Tuesday in Leavitt's absence.
• Leavitt, 28, is the youngest White House press secretary in history.
• The birth occurred less than a week after an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner where a gunman attempted to enter the room.
• Leavitt's first child, Nicholas or 'Niko', was born during the 2024 presidential campaign.

New Arrival in the White House Press Corps

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Thursday the arrival of her second child, a daughter named Viviana. The announcement, made via Instagram, shared that the newborn, affectionately known as 'Vivi,' was born on May 1st and is "perfect and healthy." This marks a significant milestone as Leavitt is the first person to give birth while serving in the role of White House press secretary. "On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love," Leavitt stated in her post, accompanied by a photograph of her holding the infant. She also noted that her elder son is "joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister," and that the family is "enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble." Leavitt, who is 28 years old, is the youngest individual to ever hold the position of White House press secretary. She is also among a select group of eight women who have served in this capacity in U.S. history. Her husband, Nicholas Riccio, is the father of both their children.

A Landmark Moment in Office

The birth of Viviana makes Karoline Leavitt the first White House press secretary to welcome a child while actively serving in the demanding role. This historic event underscores a shift in the representation and personal lives of those in high-profile government communications positions. Leavitt's final press briefing before her maternity leave was on April 27th. During that session, she expressed her hope to be away from the podium for some time, joking, "I hope and pray that this is the last time I speak to you for some time until after my maternity leave." The duration of her leave remains unspecified.

Cabinet Steps In Amidst Maternity Leave

During Leavitt's maternity leave, members of the Cabinet have been tasked with briefing the press. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his debut in the White House press briefing room on Tuesday, receiving praise from an official who described him as "a natural" and commended his message on Iran. Vice President JD Vance is also slated to appear in the briefing room. Other potential briefers mentioned include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, described as one of the "TV thoroughbreds," with the possibility of "maybe even the president himself" stepping in, according to an unnamed White House official.

Echoes of the Correspondents' Dinner

The announcement of Viviana's birth comes less than a week after a concerning incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. During the event, entertainer Oz Pearlman, known as "Oz the Mentalist," was attempting to guess the name of Leavitt's unborn child. Attendees became aware of a gunman trying to gain entry to the room just as Pearlman guessed the name "Vivian." President Donald Trump later recounted the episode to "60 Minutes," noting that attendees were being asked the name of Karoline's child when the security breach occurred. Pearlman himself told ABC News' Jonathan Karl that he believed he had guessed the name "Vivian" shortly before the shooting incident unfolded outside the ballroom.

Personal and Professional Milestones

Leavitt's first child, Nicholas, often called "Niko," was born during the 2024 presidential campaign. Her journey as press secretary has been marked by significant personal and professional milestones, including her appointment as the youngest in history and now, becoming the first to give birth while in the role. This period also sees other high-profile figures navigating family expansions. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, are expecting their fourth child in July. These concurrent events highlight the ongoing integration of personal lives with public service at the highest levels of government.

The bottom line

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has given birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana.
• Leavitt is the first White House press secretary to have a child while serving in the position.
• Cabinet members, including Marco Rubio and JD Vance, are filling in for Leavitt during her maternity leave.
• The birth occurred shortly after a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
• At 28, Leavitt is the youngest person to ever hold the role of White House press secretary.
• Leavitt's first child was born during the 2024 presidential campaign.