A Florida nurse has been fired for wishing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt a “fourth-degree tear” during her next childbirth.
The labor and delivery nurse, who worked at a hospital in Boca Raton, posted a TikTok video in which she made the comment toward Leavitt. The video went viral and was shared with her employer, Baptist Health South Florida, which subsequently issued a statement announcing the nurse’s removal.
“The comments made in a social media video by a nurse at one of our facilities do not reflect our values or the standards we expect of healthcare professionals,” Baptist Health South Florida said in a statement shared with multiple outlets. “Following a prompt review, the individual is no longer employed by our health system.”
The nurse, identified by several outlets, including the New York Post, as Lexie Lawler, said in the video that it gave her “great joy” to wish Leavitt the most severe childbirth tear possible in delivery.
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“While we respect the right to personal opinions, there is no place in healthcare for language or behavior that calls into question a caregiver’s ability to provide compassionate, unbiased care,” the Baptist Health South Florida statement read. “We are committed to an environment that promotes trust, professionalism, and respect for all.”
Leavitt is currently pregnant with her second child, expecting a baby girl in May 2026.
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Leavitt and her husband, Nick Riccio, made the announcement in December, as she became the first White House press secretary in history known to be pregnant. Leavitt and Riccio posted an image of their son Niko Riccio, born in July 2024, holding a teddy bear with a shirt that read “I’m a baby brother!” as part of the announcement.
Second Lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance also recently announced that the Second Lady is pregnant with their fourth child. The Vances said they are expecting a baby boy in July.
