Overview
- Rubio, in a Wednesday interview aboard Air Force One, called press secretary Karoline Leavitt 'irreplaceable' and said the team 'can't wait' for her return.
- Leavitt is on maternity leave after the May 1 birth of her daughter, Viviana, with no return date announced.
- The White House is rotating senior officials at the podium rather than naming an interim, including Rubio, who filled in at a May 5 briefing.
- Reporters described that May 5 session as chaotic, noting Rubio struggled to identify questioners, which fed fresh scrutiny of the rotation.
- Coverage has split, with right-leaning outlets spotlighting Rubio's poise while critics on social media and some press questioned motives and floated 2028 talk.