Vice President JD Vance (R-OH) joked that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt could temporarily assume his duties while she is on maternity leave [1].
The comment highlights the unusual nature of the current White House communications strategy, where high-ranking officials are filling in for staff roles during family absences.
Speaking from the White House press briefing room in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2026 [1], Vance led the session because Leavitt is currently on maternity leave [2]. During the briefing, Vance said he could swap roles with the press secretary for a short period.
"I could be the VP for a couple of weeks while Karoline is on maternity leave," Vance said [3].
The vice president also referenced his own family's upcoming expansion. He noted that his wife, Usha, is due to give birth in July 2026 [4].
"When Usha has our baby…" Vance said [5], connecting the timing of his own potential leave to the current arrangement with Leavitt.
The remark was intended as a joke regarding the logistical shuffle of the administration's press operations. Vance's appearance at the podium follows a pattern of other officials, such as Senator Marco Rubio, filling in for the press secretary's duties during her absence [6].
“"I could be the VP for a couple of weeks while Karoline is on maternity leave."”
The exchange reflects an informal communication style within the current administration. By joking about the transfer of executive power—even as a temporary gag—Vance is signaling a casual internal rapport with his staff while managing the public visibility of the press secretary's absence.
