'Maternity Leave for Second Child' Interrupted... 1997-born White House Spokesperson Leavitt Returns Immediately After Shooting Incident

Postponing Maternity Leave in the 39th Week of Pregnancy

Caroline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson (age 29), who is in the late stages of pregnancy and expecting to give birth soon, postponed her maternity leave and returned to work following the so-called 'banquet shooting incident.'

According to American media outlets such as People on April 27 (local time), Leavitt held a briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C. that afternoon instead of starting her maternity leave.

Previously, while in her ninth month of pregnancy, Leavitt had informed the White House press corps on April 24 that she would soon be going on maternity leave. She even joked, "Since all of you know the President's personal phone number, I don't think you'll be short on news even while I'm gone."

Caroline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, is briefing reporters. Photo by AP

Expecting to give birth as early as next week, she said, "This might be my last briefing for a while," and added, "As I am about to have my baby, I look forward to seeing you all again soon."

However, when a shooting occurred during a White House Correspondents' Association event at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. the following day, she returned to work to prepare for a briefing. At the time of the shooting, she was reportedly discussing baby names with the magician who was serving as the event host.

She said, "I thought last Friday's briefing would be my final day answering reporters' questions before going on maternity leave," adding, "But after the assassination attempt against the President and senior officials, I felt it was right for me to come out today (the 27th)."

Leavitt gave birth to her first son while serving as the spokesperson for Trump's reelection campaign during the 2024 presidential election. She made an exceptionally swift return to work just four days later. At the time, Leavitt recounted that the incident in which President Trump narrowly survived a shooting during a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, "sent me back to work much sooner."

Caroline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, and her husband Nicholas Licio. Screenshot from social media.

Born in 1997, Leavitt is considered the youngest White House spokesperson in American history. She began her career as a White House intern during Trump's first term and was part of the Trump campaign for both the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, marking her as a staunch Trump supporter.

She is married to Nicholas Licio, a real estate businessman 32 years her senior, and gave birth to their first child in July 2024.

Recently, Leavitt shared her struggles with balancing parenting and work via social media. She said, "When my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child, I felt an indescribable sense of gratitude and joy," but confessed, "My second thought was, 'How am I going to manage this job while pregnant and taking care of a child?'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.