Karoline Leavitt Celebrates Return to Briefing After Maternity Leave
WHO:
US Magazine - Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
CNN - Nicholas Riccio is Karoline Leavitt's husband.
CNN - President Trump is mentioned as the target of an assassination attempt.
WHAT:
US Magazine - Karoline Leavitt returned to work as the White House press secretary after maternity leave.
CNN - Leavitt gave her first full briefing since maternity leave, stating, “Let’s get back to work.”
CNN - Leavitt addressed contentious topics including President Trump’s upcoming speech on election integrity, Iran, and the economy.
CNN - Leavitt held an impromptu briefing to address an assassination attempt on President Trump.
WHERE:
US Magazine - The briefing took place at the White House.
CNN - Leavitt was spotted at the White House campus and traveled to Mount Rushmore with the president.
WHEN:
US Magazine - Leavitt returned to the podium on July 16.
CNN - Leavitt went on maternity leave at the end of April.
CNN - Leavitt's first child was born in July 2024.
CNN - An assassination attempt on President Trump occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner just days before Leavitt gave birth to her daughter Viviana.
WHY:
CNN - Leavitt views her role as more than a job, stating, “I view this as public service.”
HOW:
CNN - Leavitt described her approach to balancing work and motherhood, saying, “You just have to show up every day and keep going.”
(UPDATED July 17, 2026 06:41 UTC)
Karoline Leavitt has returned to her role as the White House press secretary after maternity leave, delivering her first full briefing and emphasizing the importance of getting back to work. During the briefing, she addressed several pressing issues, including President Trump’s upcoming speech on election integrity and an assassination attempt that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Leavitt, who sees her position as a form of public service, shared her thoughts on balancing work and motherhood, stating, “You just have to show up every day and keep going.”