‘ANY DAY NOW!’ Pregnant Karoline Leavitt drops Trump phone joke in final briefing before baby break

Karoline Leavitt made headlines after cracking a light joke about Donald Trump during her final press conference while visibly pregnant. She joked with reporters saying, “I know all of you have the president’s phone number personally,” bringing a lighter moment to the briefing.

On December 26, Leavitt shared personal news that she and her husband were expecting their second child. She posted on Instagram calling the baby, “the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for – a baby girl”, as stated by The Sun. The Instagram post also included photos of her son Niko and her husband Nicholas Riccio.

Karoline Leavitt pregnancy news

During a Friday briefing, Leavitt told reporters this would be her last appearance before going on maternity leave. She said, “As you can see, I’m about ready to have a baby any minute, so I’ll see you guys very soon.” Reports say the White House is not planning to replace her immediately while she is away, as noted by Politico.

Who will handle press now

Earlier, there were rumors that Anna Kelly could replace her as press secretary. Instead, officials like JD Vance and other cabinet members are expected to handle press briefings. Anna Kelly, who is currently Principal Deputy Press Secretary, has a background in Republican campaigns and worked as a communications director in the US House, as stated by The Sun.

Interestingly, Kelly also won the Miss State Fair of Virginia title back in 2019. Two more possible replacements earlier discussed were Taylor Rogers and Liz Huston. In the US, federal employees usually get around 12 weeks of parental leave, but Leavitt’s exact leave duration is not confirmed yet. At just 28 years old, Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary when she was appointed in November 2024.

Public appearances and media clash

Earlier this year in February, she attended the Super Bowl to support the New England Patriots. She even shared a photo on Instagram showing her baby bump before heading to the game. Leavitt is also known for her strong and sometimes sharp responses to reporters during briefings, as cited by The Sun.

In March, she publicly criticized Kaitlan Collins from CNN over questions about US troops killed in the Iran conflict. She responded firmly, saying the media should accurately report the success of “Operation Epic Fury.”

FAQs

Q1. Why is Karoline Leavitt going on leave?
She is taking maternity leave as she is about to have her second baby.

Q2. Who will handle press briefings after Karoline Leavitt leaves?
Officials like JD Vance and other cabinet members are expected to take over.