White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday, May 7, that she gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, on May 1. Leavitt shared the news via an Instagram post, confirming that both the baby, affectionately called "Vivi," and her older brother, Niko, are healthy. The announcement included a thank you to supporters for their well wishes throughout her pregnancy, concluding with the sentiment, "God is Good."
"President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have created a pro-family environment." — Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Viviana is Leavitt’s second child with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer. The couple previously welcomed their first child, Niko, in July 2024, shortly after Leavitt joined President Donald Trump's administration. At 28 years old, Leavitt holds the distinction of being the youngest White House press secretary.
Following Viviana's birth, Leavitt is taking maternity leave from her role. White House officials have not yet named a permanent temporary replacement to cover her absence from media briefings. Instead, the administration plans to implement a rotation system, with various officials sharing the responsibilities of conducting press briefings. According to a Politico report, this arrangement could see Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials, and even President Trump himself participating in media briefings while Leavitt is away from the podium.
Leavitt first announced her second pregnancy in December, describing the impending arrival of a baby girl as "the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for" in a social media post at the time. She also publicly thanked President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for fostering what she termed a "pro-family environment" within the administration. Leavitt has consistently characterized the White House as supportive of working parents and families, an environment she has credited for enabling her to balance her demanding professional responsibilities with her growing family.
Her second pregnancy garnered public attention, particularly when she attended the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner while heavily pregnant. During the event, guests experienced an active-shooter threat, which authorities later neutralized without any injuries. Days after this incident, Leavitt returned to the White House briefing room, expressing her hope that it would be her final briefing before giving birth. However, she continued to appear in the briefing room during the final weeks of her pregnancy, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Adding a unique detail to the birth story, mentalist Oz Pearlman reportedly predicted the baby's name. Pearlman told ABC News that he had correctly guessed Viviana's name after receiving Leavitt's permission to discuss his prediction.
Leavitt's marriage to Nicholas Riccio has also been a subject of public interest, largely due to their 31-year age difference; Riccio is 60. In a March interview with Megyn Kelly, Leavitt described their relationship as "a very atypical love story." She recounted meeting Riccio in 2022 during her unsuccessful congressional campaign in New Hampshire. The two met after a mutual friend invited Riccio to an event at a restaurant he owned in New Hampshire, initially becoming friends before their relationship developed.
Leavitt has previously spoken about the strains her intensive White House schedule places on her family life and travel plans. In a November interview with the Daily Mail, she mentioned that family trips had been canceled owing to foreign policy developments and work demands. Despite the unpredictable nature of her position, Leavitt stated that she and her husband have adapted to the demands, making the most of evenings together whenever her responsibilities permit time at home. The announcement of Viviana's birth marks a new chapter for the Leavitt-Riccio family amidst her high-profile role in the administration.
