White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared joyful personal news with the public via an Instagram post: she welcomed her second child, a daughter named Viviana, into her family on May 1. Leavitt, who has served in her top communication role for the Trump administration since President Donald Trump returned to office last year, opened up about the new addition in her social media announcement.
“On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love,” Leavitt wrote in the post. She added that the newborn is perfectly healthy, and that her 2-year-old older brother Nicholas, nicknamed Niko, has been adjusting happily to life with his new baby sister. “We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble,” she said.
This is Leavitt’s second child with her husband Nicholas Riccio; Niko will turn two in July. Leavitt first stepped away from her White House duties in April to begin maternity leave, but made an exception to briefly return to the press room after a shooting took place at the April 24 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, to update reporters on the developing situation. Since Leavitt started her leave, senior Trump administration officials have been filling in to lead the regular press briefings.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped into the briefing room to lead the daily press session. Rubio lightheartedly described the session as chaotic at points, and joked that he did not know most reporters by name, a stark contrast to Leavitt’s regular role. As of now, the White House has not confirmed how long Leavitt’s maternity leave will last, leaving uncertainty around when she will return to lead regular briefings full-time.