Karoline Leavitt says balancing work and motherhood was 'hardest thing I’ve ever had to do'

Karoline Leavitt, who served as the youngest-ever White House press secretary, has spoken about the difficulties of balancing her demanding career with motherhood. In a podcast appearance on 'Hang Out with Sean Hannity,' released Tuesday, Leavitt shared that being a working mom was 'the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life.'

Leavitt, 28, and her husband, 60-year-old real-estate developer Nicholas Riccio, have two children. She recounted that the challenges began shortly after the birth of her son, Niko, in July 2024. On the same day she brought her son home, she watched live TV coverage of an assassination attempt on then-President Donald Trump. Leavitt returned to her role as the Trump campaign's national press secretary just days after giving birth, describing the experience as 'very traumatic.'

She explained that the long hours required by her position as White House press secretary took a toll on her then-2-year-old son. Leavitt recalled him clinging to her leg as she left for work and sometimes having to be hidden so she could leave. She admitted to driving to work in silence, questioning if she could continue.

After the birth of her daughter, Viviana, in May, Leavitt decided it was time to step down, stating that the president deserved someone who could dedicate themselves to the job 24/7. She described her decision to leave as the hardest she had ever made, despite her love for the job and belief in Trump's agenda, ultimately prioritizing her children during their young years.