Lara Trump recently suggested that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt plans to take only a short maternity leave after announcing her second pregnancy. As speculation swirled about Leavitt’s future in her role, Lara Trump confidently dispelled any thoughts of her stepping down following the anticipated arrival of her baby girl in May 2026.
Speaking to Fox & Friends guest host Lisa Boothe, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law addressed the rumors directly. “I’ve seen some stories out there, Lisa, people saying, ‘Who’s next in line?’ Nobody’s next in line,” Lara Trump asserted, emphasizing Leavitt’s capability. “It’s Karoline, she can do everything,” she added, underscoring her confidence in Leavitt’s ability to balance her responsibilities.
Lara Trump further highlighted Leavitt’s dedication by recalling her previous experience. Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, welcomed their first child in July 2024. This milestone coincided with Donald Trump’s third presidential campaign, a testament to Leavitt’s commitment during critical times. “She did this, by the way, during the Trump campaign,” Lara noted on her show, My View with Lara Trump.
‘It’s Karoline, she can do everything.’
Lara went on to point out that Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, welcomed their first child in July 2024 – amid Trump’s third presidential campaign.
‘She did this, by the way, during the Trump campaign,’ the My View with Lara Trump host said.
‘She was pregnant, delivered her son Niko, and then was back to work within a couple of days – on television, fighting to ensure President Trump got elected. But she’s amazing.’
Lara, who is married to Trump’s 41-year-old son, Eric, confidently noted that Trump has fostered a ‘pro-family’ environment at the White House, allowing parents to strike a healthy balance between work and raising their children.
Karoline Leavitt shared a photo of herself in front of her Christmas tree while announcing her second pregnancy on Friday
Leavitt (pictured on December 16) is the youngest White House press secretary in US history
Lara Trump (pictured on July 31), the host of My View With Lara Trump, hinted that Leavitt’s maternity leave will be brief
‘We’re all going to be watching as Karoline Leavitt absolutely schools the fake news media while she’s probably eight and nine months pregnant,’ she said.
Leavitt shared that she and Riccio are expecting another baby on Friday, the day after Christmas.
‘The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for – a baby girl coming in May 2026,’ the youngest press secretary in White House history wrote on Instagram.
‘My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother.’
Like Lara, Leavitt – who ran as a Republican for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, but lost to the Democratic incumbent – expressed gratitude to the White House, Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for ‘fostering a pro-family environment.’
Along with her announcement, she shared several snaps capturing her excitement about becoming a ‘girl mom.’
The first photo shows a white dress-wearing Leavitt, smiling next to her Christmas tree while holding her small baby bump.
Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, welcomed their first child in July 2024
Lara Trump appeared on Fox & Friends on Saturday morning to discuss Leavitt’s announcement
In the second picture, Leavitt holds an ultrasound image next to a baby shirt that reads, ‘baby sis.’
The following heartwarming photo shows Riccio giving one-year-old Nicholas ‘Niko’ a kiss on the cheek.
In the last picture of the post, Niko holds a teddy bear wearing a shirt that reads, ‘I’m the big brother.’
‘My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother,’ Leavitt told Fox News on Friday.
‘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.’
A senior White House official said that Leavitt will remain in her position – making her the first pregnant press secretary in US history.
She also recently told Daily Mail that she is staying put for the full four years, calling the role a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Leavitt returned to Trump’s campaign just four days after giving birth to Niko, she told The Conservateur in 2024.
‘Knowing I was going to have a baby in the middle of a presidential campaign – which, I found out, is no easy thing to do – they couldn’t have been more accepting and welcoming of me,’ she told the outlet.
On Friday, Leavitt shared a photo of Riccio giving one-year-old Nicholas ‘Niko’ a kiss on the cheek
The age gap between Leavitt and Riccio (pictured with Niko) has turned heads since she became the face of the White House
Leavitt (pictured with Donald Trump on July 15) said she returned to Trump’s campaign just four days after giving birth to her son
‘I had a feeling that I would be the type of person who would want to get back right away,’ she continued.
Leavitt recalled turning on the television and watching Trump get shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, while she was holding a then three-day-old Niko in her arms.
She described this moment as a tipping point, at which she decided it was time to make her return after the brief hiatus.
‘I looked at my husband and said, “Looks like I’m going back to work,”‘ she told the outlet.
Since becoming the face of the White House, Leavitt’s 32-year age gap with her real estate developer husband has turned heads.
In March, Leavitt admitted they have a ‘very atypical love story,’ and said they first met when she unsuccessfully ran for Congress nearly four years ago.
‘A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns up in New Hampshire and invited my husband,’ Leavitt told Megyn Kelly at the time.
‘I was speaking. We met and we were acquainted as friends. And then we fell in love.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
