Karoline Leavitt Shares Baby Bump Photo – Then Faces Backlash After Thanking Trump: ‘When Your Daughter Grows Up, Keep Her Away From Your Boss’

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she is expecting her second child—a baby girl due in May 2026 in an Instagram post featuring her baby bump beside a Christmas tree.

The joyful reveal, complete with ultrasound photos and family shots, quickly turned contentious online, with critics targeting her public gratitude to President Donald Trump and reigniting debates over her 32-year age gap with husband Nicholas Riccio.

Leavitt, 28, shared the news with evident excitement: “The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for – baby girl coming in May 2026. My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and become a big brother,” referring to their 17-month-old son, Niko.

Photos included an ultrasound, a “Baby sis” shirt for Niko, and Riccio, holding their toddler. Leavitt reflected on motherhood: “My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.”

She also thanked Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles: “I am also extremely grateful to President Trump and our Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House,” adding that 2026 “is going to be a great year and I am so excited to be a girl mom!”

The post drew congratulations from supporters but criticism from others, focusing on three recurring themes: Leavitt’s praise for Trump, her marriage’s age difference, and speculative attacks blending the two.

One widely shared comment warned: “When your daughter grows up, keep her away from your boss.” Others questioned paternity: “Who is the father? If it comes out orange, you’ll have some explaining to do.”

The age gap—Riccio will be nearly 78 when the children turn 18—prompted remarks like “Dad is going to be 78 when the kids turn 18, how weird is that?” and more explicit jabs at the couple’s intimacy.

The backlash echoed past scrutiny of Leavitt’s personal life, amplified by her high-profile role defending Trump in daily briefings.

Leavitt welcomed Niko in July 2024, days before the attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania. She returned to work quickly, citing the demands of motherhood and career.

“I think every working mother understands the demands,” she told The Christian Broadcasting Network. “And no matter where you are, what you’re doing, there is a sense of guilt. But I spend every second that I possibly can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.”

During Trump’s 2024 campaign, Leavitt set up a home studio to balance childcare and media hits: “I was able to easily go downstairs and do a quick TV hit and then, of course, attend to my child.”

She brought Niko to the office post-election: “He was always with me throughout the entire duration of the campaign and just made it work.”

Leavitt met Riccio, a New Hampshire real estate developer, in 2022 during her congressional bid (which she lost to Democrat Chris Pappas). A mutual friend hosted an event where they connected as friends before romance blossomed.

The 32-year age difference initially posed challenges with family: “It was a challenging conversation,” Leavitt told Pod Force One with Miranda Devine. “But then, of course, once they got to know him and saw who he is as a man, and his character and how much he adores me, I think it became quite easy for them. And now we’re all friends.”

Riccio, described by Leavitt as introverted and supportive, has stayed largely out of the spotlight, allowing her career to take center stage.

TOP STORIES

• ‘Evil Ages Like Milk’: Karoline Leavitt Shares ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ Photos After Being Mocked for Her Viral Lip Close-Up
• Karoline Leavitt Caught in Her Web of Lies While Defending Trump – Then Snaps at Reporters
• ‘Show-off gone bad’: Karoline Leavitt, 28, shares a rare family photo with 60-year-old husband — the reaction online shocked her

Leavitt’s pregnancy announcement—ostensibly a personal milestone quickly became another flashpoint in her controversial and polarizing public life. As the youngest White House Press Secretary in history, she has cultivated a combative persona, presenting herself as family-oriented while often drawing ridicule for her sycophantic loyalty to Trump.

The backlash over her public thanks to Trump shows just how tone-deaf she can appear: supporters call it gratitude, but critics see it as yet another display of poor judgment and alignment with a leader mired in scandals involving women.