Story perspectives

Pregnant Press Secretary Announces Trump's Prime-Time Election Security Address

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Karoline Leavitt returned to the briefing Thursday after maternity leave, becoming the youngest and first pregnant press secretary.
She announced U.S. President Donald Trump will give a prime-time national address Thursday evening on election security.
Leavitt said the speech will protect election integrity, renew the SAVE America Act, and rebuked media speculation.
Trump called the address “really big news” and warned that without free, fair elections a country cannot exist.

History

Historical Context

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, signed by President Ronald Reagan on August 28 1986, gave U.S. citizens abroad a federal absentee ballot and a free-mail backup ballot. After the 2000 presidential dispute, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002, amending UOCAVA. President Donald Trump’s upcoming address revives that reform agenda, echoing the post-2000 push for standardized election security.

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Story summary

Karoline Leavitt returned to the briefing Thursday after maternity leave, becoming the youngest and first pregnant press secretary.
She announced U.S. President Donald Trump will give a prime-time national address Thursday evening on election security.
Leavitt said the speech will protect election integrity, renew the SAVE America Act, and rebuked media speculation.
Trump called the address “really big news” and warned that without free, fair elections a country cannot exist.

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