How Historic Rotating Press Secretary Setup Is Working During Leavitt’s Maternity Leave

Just days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave birth to her second child, the Trump administration’s decision to forgo a single temporary replacement is already being put to the test — and so far, it appears to be running smoothly.

Leavitt, 28, welcomed daughter Viviana “Vivi” on May 1, 2026. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, announced the happy news on May 7, sharing that the family is “joyfully adjusting to life in our blissful newborn bubble.” Leavitt, who is the first person ever to give birth while serving as White House Press Secretary, had postponed the start of her leave briefly in late April before stepping away.

Instead of naming one acting Press Secretary, the White House chose a rotating “guest host” model. Communications Director Steven Cheung is overseeing the press operation, supported by Leavitt’s full deputy and assistant team. Daily briefings and gaggles are being handled by a mix of senior officials, with no single person permanently in the role.

The rotation kicked off in earnest earlier this week. On May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped to the podium for the first major briefing in Leavitt’s absence. He fielded questions for nearly an hour on foreign policy matters, including tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and brought a lighter touch to the room — cracking jokes, referencing pop culture, and even drawing laughs from reporters before he began his remarks. Rubio’s performance was widely described as confident and engaging, with some outlets noting it felt like a “bravura” debut that kept the briefing room on its toes.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to take the podium regularly as one of the primary stand-ins, along with other Cabinet officials. President Trump himself may occasionally brief the press directly. In the meantime, Leavitt’s deputies — including Pat Adams, Anna Kelly, Kush Desai, Abigail Jackson, Liz Huston, Taylor Rogers, Davis Ingle, Allison Schuster, Olivia Wales, Micah Stopperich, Ellie Acra, Georgia O’Neil, and Kieghan Nangle — continue to manage day-to-day press shop operations and some briefings.

The D.C. press corps has reacted with a blend of curiosity and professional acceptance. Many reporters have highlighted the historic nature of the arrangement and praised the high-caliber officials stepping in. Rubio’s briefing quickly generated positive buzz and lighthearted memes online, with some calling him “Secretary of Everything.” Others have noted that the rotation keeps messaging tightly controlled by the administration’s inner circle while allowing familiar, senior voices to represent the White House. So far, no major disruptions or complaints about the format have emerged — the briefings are happening on schedule, and the operation has adapted quickly.

Leavitt herself has repeatedly expressed gratitude for the support, telling reporters before her leave that her team would keep things in “very good hands.” With only about a week into the new system, the early signs point to a flexible and functional approach that lets the youngest-ever Press Secretary focus on her growing family while the West Wing maintains its aggressive communications pace.

It remains to be seen how long the rotation will last or whether Leavitt will extend her leave beyond the standard federal parental period, but for now, the experiment is off to a strong start.

What do you think about this article?

Name
Comment *
Image