On Friday, Karoline Leavitt, the 36th and youngest White House Press Secretary, announced during a press gaggle that it would be her last gaggle "for some time." Leavitt will be giving birth any day now to a little girl, so she is taking maternity leave. With Leavitt's toddler, Niko, this sweet baby will expand Leavitt and her husband's family to four. In her role as Press Secretary, Leavitt is always on business and on point, and that has not changed throughout her second pregnancy. Were she any other female press secretary, feminists would be lauding her and demanding she be recognized.
Now, some in the legacy press appeared confused over the fact that there was no announcement of a "fill-in" while Leavitt is absent. Strange, because the Trump administration and all its members engage continually with the press, whether someone is at the briefing room podium or not.
POLITICO's Dasha Burns breathlessly called it a "Scoop," and noted that Vice President JD Vance and perhaps even President Donald Trump might be seen at the podium during Leavitt's absence.
SCOOP: WH @PressSec @karolineleavitt is scheduled to have her second child next week, a baby girl. Leavitt will be returning to the podium after her maternity leave, though it’s unclear exactly how many weeks she’ll take.
— Dasha Burns (@DashaBurns) April 24, 2026
No one will be filling in for Leavitt formally during her… pic.twitter.com/bruvE2OINR
SCOOP: WH @PressSec @karolineleavitt is scheduled to have her second child next week, a baby girl. Leavitt will be returning to the podium after her maternity leave, though it’s unclear exactly how many weeks she’ll take.
No one will be filling in for Leavitt formally during her leave — but the comms shop is planning to have some familiar faces at the podium to brief the press including VP JD Vance, Cabinet officials or even Trump himself. @playbookdc
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is about to take maternity leave, so who will do the press briefings? It will be a carousel of Trump officials, Vice President JD Vance, and maybe, even, the president of the United States himself. If that’s the case, expect Trump to hold court in there for a long time, which could make for exceptional television
If you listen to Leavitt's last statement in the Rose Garden, she clearly let the gathered press know:
1. That she would be away on maternity leave "for some time." Why would Burns assume she is required to specify a time frame? Leavitt is giving birth and, hopefully, will have time to bond with her baby, alongside her husband and son. Useless Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took indefinite time off for his maternity leave, and all he did was donate sperm.
2. The press have President Donald Trump's personal number. “I know all of you have the President’s phone number personally, so I have no doubt you won’t have a shortage of statements while I’m gone,” Leavitt said. So, they certainly know who to call if they have questions or need answers.
3. There is an entire White House cabinet and Press Team that are beyond competent and always on top of things. There is not much "circling back" that happens in this press shop.
It appears Burns' "scoop" was simply to create clickbait nonsense, as well as the impression that the White House communications would appear to be unmanned.
.@PressSec: "On a personal matter, this will likely be my last gaggle for some time — as you can see, I'm about ready to have a baby any minute." 🩷 pic.twitter.com/fdp4eZ39AH
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 24, 2026
On brand for legacy media, but even on her way to nest with her family, Leavitt was handling business. Soon after Burns put up her post, Leavitt quote-posted it with the X handles of every person on the White House Press team, directing that they should be followed.
- Pat Adams - Deputy Assistant to the President and Press Advisor
- Anna Kelly - Special Assistant to the President and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary
- Kush Desai - Special Assistant to the President and White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary
- Abigail Jackson - White House Press Secretary
- Micah Stopperich
- Liz Huston - White House Regional Press Secretary
- Taylor Rogers - White House Assistant Press Secretary
- Davis Ingle - White House Press Office Spokesman
- Allison Schuste - Assistant Press Secretary
- Olivia Wales
- Keighan Nangle - Executive Assistant to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
Follow my incredible team🇺🇸@PatAdams96@AnnaKelly47@KushDesai47@AbigailMarone @MicahStopperich@LizHuston33@TaylorRogers47@Davis_Ingle@AllisonSchuste@Olivia_Wales@KieghanNangle https://t.co/jHPiv6zDgK
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 24, 2026
It sounds as though Leavitt has great confidence in her press team, President Trump, and JD Vance, and his cabinet to handle communications in her absence. After all, they do the same when she is present. It's a strength of this Trump cabinet. But it's amazing that the legacy press assumes they need a fill-in spokesperson at the podium to legitimize what they are doing.
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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