Karoline Leavitt, 28, is expecting her second child, but it wasn’t the pregnancy that left followers stunned. Her Christmas Instagram announcement took a surprising turn when she offered unexpected praise to Donald Trump, prompting one user to bluntly ask, “It’s it Trump’s?”
Karoline Leavitt, who made history as the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, shares an 18-month-old son, Nicholas “Niko” Riccio, with Nicholas Riccio, 60. People reports that the couple became engaged during the 2023 holiday season and welcomed their first child on July 10, 2024.
‘Felt compelled’ to return to work
Just days after giving birth to Niko, Leavitt made headlines for cutting her maternity leave short following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I had just brought my newborn, my three-day-old baby home from the hospital. And I said, ‘I’m going to turn on the television and watch the rally today,’” Leavitt told The Conservateur in October 2024. “I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work.’”
“I felt compelled to be present in this historic moment,” she shared. “The president literally put his life on the line to win this election. The least I could do is get back to work quickly,” she added.
First pregnant press secretary at White House
Now, with her second child due in May 2026, Leavitt becomes the first pregnant press secretary in U.S. history while actively serving in the position, according to Fox News.
“Nearly all of my West Wing colleagues have babies and young children, so we all really support one another as we tackle raising our families while working for the greatest president ever,” she told the outlet on Dec. 26.
Baby announcement
Leavitt shared the pregnancy announcement with a holiday-themed Instagram post, posing in a white sweater dress with her hand on her stomach beside a Christmas tree. Another photo showed her husband holding Niko as the family smiled together.
In her caption, Leavitt wrote: “The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for – a baby girl coming in May 2026. 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.”
Praise for the president
However, what caught many by surprise was the sudden political pivot in her message.
Leavitt continued: “I am also extremely grateful to President Trump and our Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House. 2026 is going to be a great year and I am so excited to be a girl mom!”
‘First baby out of wedlock’
The inclusion of Trump in what began as a personal family announcement immediately sparked mixed reactions online. While many congratulated Leavitt on her growing family, others took issue with the political undertone of the post.
“It’s it Trump’s or your husband’s?” wrote one commenter under the Instagram announcement.
Another user criticized her praise for the president, saying, “Weird flex announcing your pregnancy while simultaneously praising your boss who is a literal child raping pedophile,” in reference to Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
“The absolute last thing we need is more of you,” wrote a third.
“I still remember when she had her first baby out of wedlock,” shared another, referencing that Leavitt and Riccio didn’t marry until January 2025, about six months after Niko was born, contradicting the administration’s preference for married, two-parent families.
Nephew’s mom detained by ICE
The news of Leavitt’s pregnancy follows a recent family development that brought her name into headlines for different reasons. Her nephew and godson’s mother, Bruna Caroline Ferreira, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in November and held for deportation proceedings. The White House has not commented publicly on the matter.
As 2026 approaches, Leavitt prepares to welcome her second child while continuing in her historic role as press secretary – and her decision to thank Trump for creating a “pro-family” work environment has guaranteed that her announcement will be remembered for more than just baby news.
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