White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday that she gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, on May 1. Leavitt shared the announcement in an Instagram post.
Leavitt said the baby, whom the family calls “Vivi,” was healthy with her older brother, Niko. She thanked supporters who contacted the family throughout her pregnancy and wrote, “God is Good.”
Viviana is Leavitt’s second child with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer. The couple welcomed their first child, Niko, in July 2024, after Leavitt joined President Donald Trump’s administration.
Leavitt, 28, is taking maternity leave from her role as White House press secretary following the birth. White House officials have not announced a permanent temporary replacement during her absence from media briefings.
Instead, administration officials are expected to rotate briefing responsibilities during Leavitt’s leave. Politico reported that Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials and Trump could participate in media briefings while she remains away from the podium.
Leavitt announced in December that she was expecting a baby girl. In a social media post at the time, she described the pregnancy as “the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for.”
She also thanked Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles for creating what she called a “pro-family environment.” Leavitt has repeatedly described the White House as supportive of working parents and families.
Leavitt’s second pregnancy drew attention after she attended the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner while heavily pregnant. During the event, guests reacted to an active-shooter threat that authorities later neutralized without injuries.
Days later, Leavitt returned to the White House briefing room and told reporters she hoped the appearance would be her final briefing before giving birth. She continued appearing during the final weeks of her pregnancy, per the Daily Mail.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman also became part of the story surrounding the birth announcement. Pearlman told ABC News that he had correctly guessed the baby’s name after receiving permission from Leavitt to discuss the prediction.
Leavitt and Riccio’s marriage has received public attention because of the couple’s 31-year age difference. Riccio is 60, while Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary after joining the Trump administration.
In a March interview with Megyn Kelly, Leavitt described the relationship as “a very atypical love story.” She said the couple first met in 2022 during her unsuccessful congressional campaign in New Hampshire.
According to Leavitt, the two met after a mutual friend invited Riccio to an event at a restaurant he owned in New Hampshire. She said the pair initially became friends before beginning a relationship.
Leavitt previously discussed the strain her White House schedule placed on family life and travel plans. She told the Daily Mail in November that family trips had been canceled because of foreign policy developments and work demands.
Despite the demands of the position, Leavitt said she and her husband adjusted to the unpredictability surrounding her schedule. She said the family takes advantage of evenings together whenever her responsibilities allow time at home.
