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

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

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

Earlier, Leavitt, who is nine months pregnant, had notified the White House press corps on the 24th that she would soon be going on maternity leave. She even joked, "Since you all know the president's personal phone number, I don't think you'll be lacking for news even when I'm gone."

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

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She is expected to give birth as early as next week and said, "This will likely be my last briefing for a while," adding, "Since I will be having my baby soon, I will see you again after a short break."

However, after a shooting occurred at a White House Correspondents' Association event held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. the following day, she returned to work and prepared for a briefing. At the time of the shooting, she was reportedly talking to the host, who is a magician, about possible baby names.

She said, "I thought last Friday's briefing would be the last day I would answer reporters' questions before going on maternity leave," and added, "But given that there was an assassination attempt against the president and senior officials, I felt it was right to come in today (the 27th)."

Leavitt gave birth to her first son while serving as a spokesperson for Trump's re-election campaign during the 2024 presidential election. She returned to work at a record pace, just four days later. At that time, she said 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.

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Leavitt, born in 1997, is considered the youngest White House spokesperson in U.S. history. She began her career as a White House intern during Trump's first term, and is known as a pro-Trump figure who worked for the Trump campaign during both the 2020 and 2024 elections.

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

Meanwhile, not long ago, spokesperson Leavitt shared her struggles in balancing parenting and work through social media. She said, "When my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child, I felt indescribable gratitude and joy," but confessed, "My second thought was, 'How will I manage this job while being pregnant and caring for a child at the same time?'"

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