White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has attributed her "postpartum glow" to the work of a makeup artist, joking that "a good glam will help you through the day" despite being sleep-deprived. Leavitt, 28, returned to work last week after giving birth to her second child, daughter Viviana, on May 1.
Leavitt's candid response during an appearance on Fox & Friends has resonated with other new mothers, including Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller. Miller, who recently welcomed her fourth child, shared a clip of Leavitt's remark on X, praising her authenticity.
When asked about balancing a demanding job with a newborn, Leavitt stated, "You just do it, you just wake up and you just do your best everyday, day after day." She expressed her affection for her daughter, nicknamed Vivi, and her excitement to return home to her.
Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, also have a son, Niko, who will turn two next month. In 2024, Leavitt spoke about her experiences as a working mother, recounting her swift return to work after the birth of her first child following an assassination attempt on then-President Donald Trump. At the time, she was the national press secretary for Trump's presidential campaign and felt compelled to be present during what she described as a historic moment.
She previously described the Trump campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach as a welcoming environment for parents, with informal policies like a "bring-your-kid-to-work day" on Saturdays. Leavitt recalled working late nights with colleagues who also had young children, describing the experience as "crazy but very rewarding."
During Leavitt's recent maternity leave, various administration members covered her press briefing duties, including Vice President JD Vance. While on leave, Leavitt shared photos of her family life on social media and attended Trump's birthday UFC fight on June 14 with her husband. She returned to work accompanying President Trump on a trip to Pennsylvania. Leavitt had previously been seen at the podium at 39 weeks pregnant in April, around the time of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was later rescheduled with enhanced safety measures following an incident.