The former beauty queen waiting in the wings to replace Karoline Leavitt — here's her story

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting ready for a significant personal milestone following the confirmation that she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, are expecting their second child. Their baby girl is due in May, a development that has fueled discussion about how the press office will handle her temporary absence and who may step in during that period.

Leavitt disclosed the pregnancy in December via Instagram post, uploading images of her baby bump and showing excitement about expanding her family. She and Riccio are already parents to a son, Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio, who was born in July 2024.


As her maternity leave nears, questions have evolved around how long she may be away from her position. Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump has indicated that her time off is likely to be short, adding further spark to the speculation. The conversation amplified after Leavitt shared images from her baby shower, including a rare photo of her older husband, initiating widespread public interest.

At the same time, attention has turned to possible successors who could temporarily take over her high-profile role. Names circulating include According to The Mirror US, several individuals within the administration and conservative media sphere are being examined as potential stand-ins such as Anna Kelly, Taylor Rogers, Liz Huston, Kush Desai, Tricia McLaughlin, and political commentator Katie Pavlich.

Anna Kelly emerges as the leading internal candidate

Among those discussed, Anna Kelly is widely regarded as the strongest contender to get in temporarily. Now she serves as an Assistant Press Secretary in the Trump administration and has substantial experience serving on Republican campaigns and communications teams.

Kelly has earlier worked as communications director for lawmakers and state political organizations, establishing a background in political messaging and media relations. Beyond politics, Kelly has a surprising achievement in pageantry. In 2019, she won the Miss State Fair of Virginia title, adding a distinctive dimension to her professional profile.

Other White House communications officials in consideration

Another name in circulation is Kush Desai, who currently works as White House Deputy Press Secretary in the second Trump administration. An Indian-American former journalist, he has held senior communications positions with the Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Iowa, and the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Taylor Rogers and Liz Huston, both Assistant Press Secretaries in the White House Office of the Press Secretary, are also viewed as strong possibilities. They work closely with senior communications staff and assist in everyday press operations and media coordination, making them familiar with briefing room responsibilities.

Former DHS spokesperson and media figure also mentioned

Tricia McLaughlin, who earlier served as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is also among the names discussed. She became a widely recognized public spokesperson in her tenure before stepping away from the position recently.

In addition, Katie Pavlich, a journalist, author, and political commentator, has been mentioned in wider speculation. She now hosts “Katie Pavlich Tonight” on NewsNation and has earlier worked with Townhall.com and Fox News. She is known for her conservative political commentary and coverage of national issues.

No official replacement confirmed yet

Despite widespread speculation, the White House has not revealed any official temporary replacement for Karoline Leavitt. It remains uncertain whether responsibilities will be assigned to a single acting press secretary or shared among existing staff members.

Currently, all names being discussed are unofficial possibilities.

Source: The Mirror US

FAQs:

Q1. Why is Karoline Leavitt in the news?
She recently announced her pregnancy and upcoming maternity leave. This has led to discussions about temporary staffing changes in her role.

Q2. When is her baby due?
Her second child, a baby girl, is due in May. She shared the announcement in December.