Karoline Leavitt to Hold First Press Briefing After Maternity Leave

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is scheduled to return to the podium on Thursday after taking several months of leave for the birth of her second child. Leavitt will brief reporters at the White House on Thursday afternoon, where she is expected to address topics including Iran, the midterm elections, and President Donald Trump’s primetime speech that evening. Leavitt has been on leave since late April and welcomed her daughter, Viviana, in May. She resumed some work duties in late June. Leavitt is noted for being the first pregnant White House press secretary and the youngest at 28 years old. During her absence, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio filled in for her during press briefings. Leavitt's last briefing before her leave was on April 24, where she indicated she would return soon.