White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has returned from maternity leave and made appearances on Fox News and at White House briefings after welcoming her second child in May 2026. Leavitt, 28, gave birth to a baby girl named Viviana on May 7, 2026, and took leave from her role as the 36th White House press secretary to care for her newborn.
Leavitt had announced her pregnancy in December 2025, stating the baby was due in May 2026. She held her final press briefing before maternity leave on April 24, 2026, telling reporters she would return “very soon” to the podium. During her absence, other senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stepped in to conduct White House press briefings.
Federal employees, including those in the executive branch, are generally entitled to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Leavitt’s return comes roughly six weeks after giving birth, signaling her decision to cut short her full entitlement to maternity leave.
As the youngest White House press secretary in history, Leavitt is the first woman to have a baby while serving in that role. Her return marks a significant moment for working mothers in high-profile government positions, demonstrating how federal parental leave policies work in practice at the highest levels of the Trump administration.
Sources
- Fox News — Leavitt’s pregnancy announcement and birth of daughter Viviana
- The Hill — Federal parental leave entitlements and timeline
- BBC — Birth announcement and maternity leave details
- Washington Post — Maternity leave plans and return timeline
- People.com — Return from maternity leave and briefing details
