White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to take maternity leave in the coming days, prompting changes to how press briefings will be handled. Administration officials say there will be no single replacement, with duties instead shared among senior figures.
Leavitt is scheduled to give birth to her second child, a baby
girl, next week. The White House has not specified how long she plans to be away from the podium.
According to reporting from Politico, the administration plans to rotate a group of officials to conduct briefings during her absence. Those expected to appear include Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet members and potentially President Donald Trump himself.
The decision means there will be no formal interim press secretary. Instead, the White House is opting for a flexible approach that draws on multiple voices within the administration.
If Trump takes a direct role in press briefings, it would mark a notable shift in format. Presidents have occasionally addressed the press in briefing settings, but it is not typical for them to regularly lead daily briefings.
Officials say the arrangement is designed to maintain continuity while allowing Leavitt to take leave. It also reflects the administration’s preference for using a range of senior officials to communicate policy positions.
During this period, the White House communications operation will continue to function under existing leadership. Communications Director Steven Cheung will oversee the press shop alongside Leavitt’s current team.
That team includes senior communications staff responsible for managing messaging and coordinating media outreach. Among those assisting in day-to-day operations are 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.
The White House has not indicated a fixed schedule for who will appear at the podium on any given day. Instead, officials say briefings will be handled based on availability and subject matter expertise.
Leavitt is expected to return to her role after her maternity leave
concludes. The administration has not provided a specific timeline for her return.
In March, it was reported that Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly was widely viewed as a leading internal candidate to step into Leavitt’s role. She joined the White House in January after serving in senior communications roles at the Republican National Committee and in the House of Representatives, according to a Saturday report.
Kelly also serves as a special assistant to Donald Trump, a role noted on her social media profile and one that places her in close proximity to senior decision-making within the administration. Her background extends beyond government and political communications. In 2019, Kelly was crowned Miss State Fair of Virginia, a title she used to promote civic engagement among young Americans.
“In today’s polarized political climate, it is our job to step up to the plate and work to ensure the government we receive is a good one,” she told the Fairfax Times.
“It is my goal as Miss State Fair of Virginia to show young people that, contrary to what they might believe, we do have a voice and it’s about time we used it,” Kelly, a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama, added.
Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers was also viewed as a potential option. A graduate of Clemson University, she joined the White House at the start of Donald Trump’s second term after working for nearly two years at the Republican National Committee.
Rogers has been seen working closely with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, including appearances in the Oval Office, and maintains an active social media presence documenting her role in the administration.
Regional Press Secretary Liz Huston represents another potential candidate. An Indiana University graduate, she joined the administration from StateRAMP, a cybersecurity organization where she worked as a program manager following an internship.
