Photo of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt with Her Baby at Work Sparks Debate

This isn't the first time the White House Press Secretary has brought her adorable baby boy to a professional setting.

Margo Martin, a senior Trump aide, gave a glimpse of working life in the White House by posting a photo of Karoline Leavitt with her son. Fans reacted with admiration and criticism after the behind-the-scenes moment surfaced online.

Martin shared the photo on X, offering a rare peek inside the press secretary's office. The image captured Leavitt multitasking, tending to her son, Nicholas "Niko" Robert Riccio, while continuing her official duties.

"Walked into @PressSec typing with one hand, and feeding her son with the other 💙. Super Mom!" Martin captioned the post.

The snapshot also revealed the understated setup of Leavitt's office. On display were a few personal touches, including photographs pinned to a board and a picture of her with President Donald Trump perched on a radiator next to her chair.

A printed meme also caught viewers' attention. It showed a man refusing a brain on a platter with the caption, "No thanks... I won't be needing that. I believe everything the legacy media shows."

Additional images included what appeared to be a group photo of Trump's senior team and another showing Leavitt and baby Niko enjoying a day at the beach. The photo quickly became a lightning rod for debate, with some accusing Leavitt of using her child for attention.

One critic remarked, "Nice, using your kid as a photo op." Another person echoed that sentiment, "The person taking the picture is taking care of the baby. This is just a photo op." Skepticism continued as someone speculated, "Staged for the camera? Nothing special here to see 😏."

A short but cutting comment read, "Poor baby." Others took issue with the baby's presence in a professional setting, asking, "Why is her baby at work???? No other mothers can do that."

But not all the reactions were negative. One commenter pushed back, writing, "The amount of people in here attacking her is baffling. I don't understand it's so hard for people to believe it possible to multitask while holding a baby [sic]."

Another person offered heartfelt support drawn from personal experience, "Been there. Done that. With twins! You go girl and everyone out there juggling, struggle and loving. Toughest job you will ever love. ❤️🙌😍." Finally, one user kept it simple, noting, "And she is doing an awesome job."

Karoline Leavitt shares her son with her husband, Nicholas Riccio. She has taken Niko to several work-related engagements, making scenes like this a familiar and controversial part of her public life.

In a previous Instagram post, she revealed that she had taken Niko to a meeting at the White House. The photo showed him seated on her lap, curiously observing a roundtable discussion.

Leavitt captioned the post, "Yesterday, I was proud to bring my son with me to the first ever MAHA Commission Meeting at the White House with @robertfkennedyjr and many moms (and dads!) who are leading the nationwide movement to Make America Healthy Again."

In another photo captioned, "Visiting mama at work. 🥰💙," Leavitt is seen holding her son in the West Wing of the White House. He appears to be laughing while his mom beams with a bright smile.

Leavitt's path to parenthood unfolded in the public eye, drawing attention to her high-profile position and the personal choices she shares with fans online. From major life events to quiet family moments, she marks each milestone with carefully chosen glimpses into her private world.

Leavitt Shares Her Pregnancy News

In April 2024, Leavitt announced her pregnancy through a post on Instagram. She shared photos of her baby bump and wrote, "2024 is busy for more reasons than one. Adding 'boy mom' to my title soon. I am so grateful for all of the blessings God has given me."

At the time, Leavitt was serving as the national press secretary for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. She accepted the role while still in the early stages of her pregnancy. Before publicly disclosing the news, she informed the campaign's co-managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita.

Speaking about their response, she said, "They couldn't have been more accepting and welcoming of me." Throughout her pregnancy, Leavitt maintained a demanding work schedule. Her day often began at 4 a.m. with media appearances on outlets like Fox News and Newsmax.

Reflecting on that period, Leavitt remarked that she was never sick and that Niko traveled well with her throughout hotel stays and flights. "Exactly the way he was inside of me," she'd later say, "is who he is as a baby now." She balanced campaign travel, briefings, and press commitments while preparing for the arrival of her child.

Niko's Birth and a Return to Work

Leavitt gave birth to her son, Niko, on July 10, 2024, at 11:25 p.m. Five days later, she announced his birth on Instagram, posting photos of herself and the newborn. In the caption, she described the moment as the best of her life and expressed gratitude for their healthy, happy son.

Three days after giving birth, Leavitt watched a live broadcast of Trump being shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. It was her first full day home from the hospital. She later stated that, upon seeing the event unfold, she decided to return to work. Four days after delivery, she resumed her role as national press secretary for Trump's 2024 campaign.

"I looked at my husband and said, 'Looks like I'm going back to work,'" she recounted. Four days after giving birth, Leavitt resumed her duties as national press secretary. She explained, "I felt compelled to be present in this historic moment. The president literally put his life on the line to win this election. The least I could do is get back to work quickly."

Shortly after returning to work, Leavitt received a phone call from Trump. She said, "It was incredibly warm and kind. He wanted to check in. He asked me how I was doing." Trump then handed the phone to his wife, Melania Trump, who spoke with Leavitt about becoming a mother to a son.

She recalled, "They spoke about their love for Barron, and the president cracked a joke: 'We have a little boy, but he's not so little now!'" Shortly after resuming her duties, Leavitt shared Niko's first photos online, marking the beginning of five notable moments when she revealed his face to the public.

Leavitt's first post about her newly born son included images of the baby swaddled and resting, along with Leavitt holding him. This post marked the first of several public glimpses Leavitt shared of Niko, each one offering a new view into her family life.

In the months that followed, Leavitt continued to balance her role on the campaign with motherhood, sharing additional moments of Niko as part of her daily routine.

Balancing Family and Career: Inside Leavitt's Daily Life with Niko

Leavitt's workdays often began at 4 a.m. with early media appearances on Fox News, Newsmax, and Fox Business. While managing campaign briefings and travel, she also attended to Niko at home and on the road.

During this period, Leavitt shared moments of her routine, describing how she completed multiple tasks simultaneously. She recalled doing her makeup, nursing Niko, and preparing for a televised segment simultaneously.

Her work routine remained rigorous, often starting before sunrise with media appearances, briefings, and campaign travel. She described following the "Donald Trump sleep schedule," averaging about four hours of sleep per night.

Caring for Niko added complexity to that routine, and Leavitt acknowledged that balancing both roles came with emotional and physical challenges. "Leaving the baby every day to go to work, it does break your heart," she said.

She also noted, "It would have been a lot easier for me to respectfully decline this job offer and enjoy this past year in the peace and comfort of my previous job. But I know I’m doing it for a bigger cause— to win this election."

Leavitt received logistical and emotional support from her husband, Riccio, and her mother, who helped care for Niko during travel and work obligations. Riccio often accompanied Leavitt and their son, including trips to Bedminster, New Jersey, where she worked on campaign events.

"He's the father of my child, of course, and he's the best dad I could ever ask for. And so supportive, especially during this very chaotic period of life," Leavitt gushed during an interview. During the campaign period, her supportive mother had to leave her job at a yoga studio to assist more regularly.

At Trump's campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Saturdays often served as informal "bring-your-kid-to-work" days. Leavitt worked alongside other team members who were also parents, including Danielle Alvarez, Sonny Joy Nelson, Alina Habba, Lara Trump, and Susie Wiles.

Leavitt noted that campaign staff often worked through early mornings and late nights, managing both professional tasks and childcare responsibilities. Since she came into the public eye, Leavitt has always shown a remarkable work ethic.

She worked for U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, served in the Trump administration, and ran for Congress in New Hampshire, where she won the Republican primary at 25. After that campaign, she launched a consulting business, which she paused when she accepted the role of national press secretary for Trump's 2024 campaign.

In November 2024, Leavitt was appointed White House press secretary, in preparation for what would be Trump's second term in office, pending inauguration.

At age 27, she became the youngest person in U.S. history to hold the position, a fact that was widely reported in national media. Amid the demands of her role and family life, Leavitt also marked a personal milestone at the start of the new year. She got married to Riccio in January 2025, six months after the birth of their son.

Leavitt Reflects on Motherhood and Hopes for Niko's Future

As her son grew through his early milestones, Leavitt shared reflections on her experience as a first-time mother, including thoughts on Niko's temperament and her hopes for his future.

She described him as calm and adaptable, noting that throughout her pregnancy and work-related travel, he had been easy to care for.

She observed that his personality as a baby reflected how he had been before birth — quiet and consistent during months spent in hotel rooms and on flights across the country.

Leavitt expressed a desire to raise her son with confidence and faith, hoping that he would understand his worth as coming from God, not from others.

She also said she wished for him to grow up kind, serious when necessary, and fun when the moment allowed. Speaking about the future, Leavitt said she hoped that one day Niko would look back at all she did during his early life and feel proud of his mother.

At just 27, Leavitt has reached milestones in both her professional and personal life that few achieve at any age. From securing a Congressional primary win at 25 to becoming the youngest White House press secretary in history, her career reflects a steady progression marked by discipline and determination.

Through each stage, Leavitt has remained grounded in her values, expressing confidence in her purpose and a clear dedication to her family. Her public posts serve not only as personal updates but as evidence of the balance she maintains between responsibility and love for those closest to her.