Karoline Leavitt shares motherhood post ahead of second baby but it backfires
On May 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to Instagram to share a message about motherhood ahead of the birth of her second baby with husband Nicholas Riccio
Karoline Leavitt opened up about motherhood ahead of the birth of her second child, but it backfired miserably.
On Friday, May 1, the 28-year-old White House Press Secretary took to her Instagram to share that there "is no greater blessing than motherhood." She concluded her post by telling her followers, "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Leavitt is eagerly awaiting the birth of her daughter, her second baby with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, which could come at any time. The couple also shares a son, Niko, 21 months old. While many of her followers wished her well with the new baby, others trolled her in the comments. This comes after Leavitt was dubbed a "liar" for her recent remarks about President Donald Trump.
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In the comments section of Leavitt's post, several social media users slammed her, with one adding a GIF from the Hulu series, The Handmaid's Tale. Ann Dowd's character, Aunt Lydia, says, "Blessed be the fruit," a phrase said by civilians in Gilead, a totalitarian, patriarchal, and neo-Puritanical society that replaced the United States.
Other GIFs featured the words, "Release the Files," referring to the files pertaining to the case of the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. A third commenter simply wrote, "Liar," while a fourth, brutally, wrote, "Poor kids." Yet another bashed, "Please go on maternity LEAVE."
However, the comments were flooded with praise for the expectant mother. One person gushed, "Beautiful and CUTEST. Loveeeee these pics!!!!!" Another added, "Beautiful and all the very best for you and your little girl."
A third said, "Greatest press secretary to ever do it," as a fourth chimed in, "Enjoy your maternity leave, and praying for a safe and successful delivery of your new blessing."
On Monday, April 27, the 28-year-old once again praised Trump during a press conference following the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was disrupted by a shooter. The suspect has now been charged with attempting to assassinate Trump.
Days after she planned to begin her maternity leave, Leavitt said she viewed her job as the president and White House's spokeswoman as a "public service." The press secretary, who attended the Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, April 25, said Trump "inspires all of us" as he faces "unprecedented adversity and challenges."
Leavitt said, "I'm honored to work in this job. I view this job as the president’s spokesperson and the White House spokeswoman as public service. It’s not just any job. I'm honored to do it and I'm honored to work and speak on behalf of President Trump, who has faced unprecedented adversity and challenges.
"And I'm honored to work for him, and again, as I witnessed on Saturday night, just his dogged resolve and determination to get back on to the stage, and he was pushing Secret Service and law enforcement to allow him to address, and that really — I think hopefully it gives the country the type of strength that we need.
"And I certainly know as his spokesperson, and I can speak on behalf of all of the staff here at the White House, the president inspires all of us to just keep going and keep fighting every day."
On X, Leavitt was slammed for praising Trump and even dubbed a "liar." One person bashed, "Every time Karoline Leavitt lies, her philtrum grows by a hair's width."
Another slammed, "You lie daily and gaslight the American people," as a third questioned, "So why do you lie so much. How is that a public service?" Yet another chimed in, "She's a paid liar. I mean we all know it I have nothing against her but that's just her job."
However, several of Leavitt's followers praised her for delaying her maternity leave to give the press conference. Many simply praised her for the job she's done over the first year of Trump's second term. One gushed, "We love you @PressSec @karolineleavitt and you are doing a wonderful job. Please take the time for yourself and your baby. It's okay."
Another added, "Thank you, Karoline, you have been an incredible press secretary. Best wishes on the new blessing," as a third pointed out, "One tough young lady. Nicholas and little Nico are blessed to have her in their lives."
Yet another praised, "Regardless of politics, this is impressive. Carrying a child at 39 weeks while briefing the press under pressure shows real grit. Mothers balancing high-stakes roles deserve respect. Hope everything goes smoothly for her and the baby. Good luck, baby, once you are out, and tell your mom to follow me on X hahaha."
This wasn't the first time Leavitt has put her personal life on hold amid a Trump administration crisis. In July 2024, she returned to the campaign trail four days after giving birth to her son, Nikko, following Trump's near-assassination at a rally in Butler, P.A.
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"I looked at my husband and said, 'Looks like I'm going back to work,'" Leavitt recounted in an interview with The Conservateur last year.
My Daughter Was Called a Thief at a Luxury Wedding… Then Everyone Watched What He Did
The ambulance doors slammed shut just as two police officers rushed into the ballroom.
The entire reception froze.
The music stopped.
The laughter disappeared.
Hundreds of guests stood silently beneath the crystal chandeliers, watching as the perfect wedding celebration transformed into something far darker.
“Nobody leaves.”
The officer’s voice cut through the room.
For the first time that night...
Preston looked uncertain.
“What is this?” he demanded, forcing a laugh. “My niece assaulted herself after stealing my phone.”
But the officer didn’t react.
He simply looked at him.
Coldly.
“We’ll decide what happened.”
Across the ballroom, paramedics carefully cleaned the blood from Sophie’s forehead.
The little girl sat quietly, her face pale, her small hands trembling.
But she never let go of Evelyn’s hand.
“I’m sorry, Mommy...” Sophie whispered.
Evelyn’s heart broke.
She immediately pulled her daughter closer.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she said softly, kissing her hair.
“You told the truth.”
Those words carried more weight than anyone in the room realized.
Because for the past several minutes, an innocent child had been treated like a criminal.
And the person who had hurt her had believed money and status would protect him.
Just like always.
Inside the ballroom, hotel security entered and quietly positioned themselves near the exits.
The guests began whispering.
The elegant wedding atmosphere was gone.
No one was looking at the flowers anymore.
No one cared about the expensive decorations.
Everyone was watching Preston.
The hotel manager stepped forward, speaking calmly.
“Our surveillance system records every entrance, every hallway, and every angle of this ballroom.”
Preston immediately relaxed.
Almost smiled.
“Perfect.”
“You’ll see exactly what happened.”
He pointed toward Sophie.
“That little thief stole my phone.”
The manager’s expression changed slightly.
“Actually...”
A pause.
“The cameras show something very different.”
The giant screen above the ballroom stage suddenly came alive.
Every conversation stopped.
Every guest turned.
The first footage appeared.
The camera angle showed Preston sitting at his table.
Everyone watched carefully.
Then they saw it.
Preston removing his titanium phone from his pocket.
He placed it inside his jacket.
Minutes later...
Sophie was sitting beside her mother, quietly coloring on a children’s menu.
She wasn’t bothering anyone.
She wasn’t near Preston.
She wasn’t even looking at him.
Then Preston stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
He looked around the ballroom.
Once.
Twice.
Making sure nobody was watching.
Then he walked behind Sophie’s chair.
And slipped the phone into the pocket of her small denim jacket.
The ballroom went silent.
Completely silent.
A gasp escaped from somewhere in the crowd.
“Oh my God...”
Another guest stood up.
“He framed her.”
No one laughed.
No one defended him.
Because everyone had just seen the truth with their own eyes.
The next video began immediately.
This time, the footage showed Evelyn.
She had stepped between Preston and Sophie.
Protecting her daughter.
Trying to stop the situation from becoming worse.
Then Preston lost control.
The camera captured him grabbing the heavy oak menu board from its stand.
The room watched in horror as he raised it.
And swung it toward an eight-year-old child.
The sound of the impact echoed through the ballroom speakers.
A heavy silence followed.
Because there was no misunderstanding anymore.
No excuse.
No explanation.
It wasn’t an accident.
It was an attack.
The guests who had applauded Preston only minutes earlier now stared at him with disgust.
The same people who once admired his wealth and reputation were now seeing the person behind the image.
His bride slowly stepped away.
Her face had gone pale.
“I...”
“I didn’t know.”
Her voice broke.
For the first time, Preston looked truly alone.
He turned toward his parents.
“Say something.”
But they didn’t move.
They didn’t defend him.
They didn’t speak.
Because there was nothing left to defend.
The officer slowly closed his notebook.
Then looked directly at Preston Whitmore.
“Mr. Preston Whitmore...”
“You are under arrest for assaulting a minor, filing a false accusation, and attempting to fabricate evidence.”
The ballroom held its breath.
Then came the sound.
Click.
The handcuffs closed around his wrists.
For the first time in his life...
No one protected him.
No powerful friend stepped forward.
No family member interrupted.
No one used money, influence, or reputation to make the consequences disappear.
Preston Whitmore stood in the middle of the ballroom wearing the same expensive suit he had arrived in.
But everything else had changed.
The confidence was gone.
The arrogance was gone.
The belief that he was untouchable was gone.
Because three hundred witnesses had seen the truth.
They had watched him create a lie.
They had watched him target a child.
They had watched him hurt someone smaller and weaker because he believed nobody would challenge him.
As the officers escorted him away, the ballroom doors opened.
The same guests who had once stepped aside for him now moved away.
Not out of respect.
Out of disgust.
Evelyn watched silently as Preston disappeared.
Her attention never stayed on him for long.
Instead, she turned back to Sophie.
Her daughter was still sitting with the paramedics, holding the small stuffed animal someone had given her after the incident.
A bruise was beginning to form.
Her forehead was still wrapped.
But she was safe.
That was all that mattered.
Evelyn walked over and knelt beside her.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Sophie looked up.
Her eyes were still filled with confusion.
“Did I do something wrong?”
The question broke something inside Evelyn.
She immediately pulled her daughter into her arms.
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“But he said I was bad...”
“I know.”
Evelyn held her tighter.
“Sometimes people say cruel things because they’re afraid of the truth.”
Sophie stayed quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered:
“Did you believe me?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Because that was the question that mattered most.
Not the cameras.
Not the police.
Not Preston.
Her daughter needed to know.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I believed you from the beginning.”
Across the ballroom, the hotel manager approached the officers.
“There’s something else you should see.”
The detective turned.
“What?”
The manager hesitated.
“Another camera angle.”
The footage was replayed.
This time, it showed something that had happened before the confrontation.
Preston had been speaking with several guests.
He had been angry.
Frustrated.
Complaining that his family name was losing respect.
Then he looked directly toward Sophie.
The detective watched carefully.
“He chose her.”
The manager nodded.
“He saw the child as the easiest person to blame.”
The detective wrote something down.
“Add that to the report.”
Meanwhile, Preston’s parents remained frozen near their table.
The room that had once celebrated their family now felt like a courtroom.
Guests whispered.
Old friends looked away.
Business partners quietly stepped back.
Because reputation was everything in their world.
And tonight...
everyone had seen exactly what kind of family they were protecting.
Evelyn stood with Sophie in her arms when one of the officers approached.
“Mrs. Brooks?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“We’ll need a formal statement.”
Evelyn nodded.
Then she looked at Sophie.
The little girl reached for her hand.
Evelyn held it firmly.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
And she meant it.
Every lie.
Every accusation.
Every second her daughter had been forced to stand alone.
Because tonight wasn’t just about Preston Whitmore being arrested.
It was about a child who almost believed she deserved the blame.
And a mother who refused to let anyone make her daughter feel small again.
Outside the hotel, police lights reflected against the glass walls.
The wedding decorations were still hanging.
The flowers were still perfect.
The champagne was still untouched.
But the illusion was gone.
The Whitmore family had spent years building a powerful image.
Tonight, one child and one security camera destroyed it in less than ten minutes.
And as Preston sat in the back of the police car, staring through the window at the mansion-like hotel disappearing behind him...
he finally understood something.
The person he underestimated the most...
was the only person in the room who had nothing to lose.
His eight-year-old niece.
Sophie.
