What to Know
Even before Karoline Leavitt went on maternity leave to give birth to her second child, her daughter, people had thoughts about the press secretary’s privileges. Not only does she have the ability to take time off, but she also has the support of an entire country (give or take). So when she posted a photo of herself with her infant in her daughter’s nursery on X (formerly Twitter), some people wanted her to keep her privilege in check.
Those who already oppose Leavitt and Donald Trump were not here for her hashtag precious baby photo with her new daughter. Some also pointed out the age gap between her husband and her compared to that of the age gap she shares with her daughter now. And that’s a low blow that people felt they just had to take.
People pointed out that Karoline Leavitt doesn’t live in the same world as most of us do.
On May 1st, Viviana aka “Vivi” joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love. 💕
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) May 7, 2026
She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.
Thank you to… pic.twitter.com/wM1P1zEGsa
Leavitt is a government employee who is at a top level that many can never even hope to be. So any relatable mom moment for her is going to be dead on arrival. Still, she posted that photo of her holding her daughter shortly after they went home from the hospital.
“On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love,” Leavitt wrote. “She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble. Thank you to everyone who reached out with prayers during my pregnancy – I truly felt them throughout the entire experience. God is Good.”
On Reddit, someone wrote about the world Leavitt’s baby will live in compared to that of other kids in the country.
“Imagine the world that kid will get to inhabit,” they wrote. “No problems, no consequences, no DEI, everything swept nicely under the rug of an expensive Christian school. Then they will blossom at an Oral Robert/Joel Osteen/Jim Baker private Christian college. Majoring in taking money from people, and eventually run for office suggesting people hate anyone who didn’t grow up this same way.”
On another Reddit post, someone shared a message to Leavitt and wrote, “I hope your newborn daughter never has to give birth, seek prenatal care, be hospitalized, enter a maternity ward, obtain an abortion, find child care, rely on food stamps, or receive an education. It would be a shame if she had to face the world you’re creating.”
Another Redditor commented on that post with, The rich don’t live in the same world we do. Until we pull them down with us.”
Others pointed out her age gap with her children compared to hers with her husband.
Some of Leavitt’s critics also poked fun on Reddit at the age gap between herself and her husband, Nicholas Riccio. They have a 32-year age gap, with Riccio being much older. It’s a point of conversation often for Leavitt haters, and when it’s such a big thing, it’s hard to let it go. So please excuse people if they did the quick math and realized the age gap between herself and her daughter is just a few years shy of the one she shares with her almost senior citizen husband.
“Imagine instead of Leavitt holding a newborn baby, it was her husband at age 32, with the newborn baby being Leavitt,” a Redditor wrote. “That’s how wide this age gap is.” Yeah, they aren’t totally wrong there.
Someone responded to that comment to point out, “She’s closer in age to her newborn baby than she is to her husband.” Also not untrue.
She didn’t specify how long her maternity leave is.
As people criticize Leavitt for flaunting her maternity leave at a time when the U.S. is going through an economic crisis, childcare cost struggle, and general issues at a level close to most Americans who aren’t in Trump’s inner circle, they can’t help but hate on her. Especially since, according to The Washington Post, her maternity leave length is unclear and could be pretty long. Elsewhere in America, new moms are struggling to afford childcare as they are forced to return to work just weeks after giving birth. But you do you, Karoline.
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