Donald Trump to Take Over Press Briefings as Karoline Leavitt Goes on Maternity Leave

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, that she will be taking maternity leave, with Donald Trump set to take over some press briefings in her absence.

During a press gaggle outside the White House, Leavitt confirmed that the day’s interaction with reporters would likely be her last for an extended period. She reassured the press that they would still have access to key communications through Trump’s direct contact.

“This will likely be my last gaggle for some time.”

“As you can see, I’m about ready to have a baby any minute, so I’ll see you guys very soon.”

“I know all of you have the president’s phone number personally, so I have no doubt that you will have a shortage of statements and news from this building while I’m gone.”

A Fox News clip of Leavitt’s remarks was shared on social media, highlighting her statement: “This will likely be my last gaggle for some time.”

According to a Politico report, no formal replacement has been named for Leavitt’s maternity leave. Instead, the communications team will be managed by a group of staffers, including:

• Steven Cheung
• 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
• Kieghan Nangle

The podium for press briefings will be shared by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other Cabinet officials during Leavitt’s absence.

Leavitt has spoken openly about the demanding nature of her role. Earlier in April 2026, she revealed at a Turning Point USA event that her work often disrupted her sleep.

“I’ll make the mistake of being awake at 3 a.m. and reading through some of the stories. And my brain’s going … My adrenaline’s going. And my team knows, I see my assistant in the front row, she’s smirking because they’ll wake up to the group chat and I send texts between the hours of like, 2 and 4 a.m. every night.”

“And I’m like, ‘We need to call this reporter in the morning. This is not true. We need to correct this. Put this statement in this story.’ So, it’s just constant. It’s a 24/7 news cycle we live in.”