Marco Rubio playfully takes over press podium during Karoline Leavitt's maternity leave

WASHINGTON, DC: Marco Rubio briefly popped up in the White House briefing room on Wednesday and jokingly took over the Press Secretary’s podium while Karoline Leavitt is out on maternity leave.

The cameo was caught on video and quickly made the rounds online.

Marco Rubio leans into the joke

Rubio didn’t pretend it was official business. He told reporters he was there to carry out a joke, even striking a pose behind the lectern and drawing a few laughs from the room before heading back to his day job.

The gag plays into an ongoing joke within the Trump administration that has seen Rubio earn the nickname “Secretary of Everything.” The label reflects his unusually broad workload, something Rubio himself has acknowledged.

During a Cabinet meeting last Labor Day, Rubio quipped, “This is the most meaningful Labor Day of my life as someone with four jobs.”

He later doubled down on social media. “I joked with @POTUS that I had four jobs. He told me to give one to my friend @RussVought47. So I did,” he posted on X, referring to Russell Vought, who was confirmed as Director of the Office of Management and Budget in a 53-47 Senate vote last February.

Alongside running the State Department, Rubio has also taken on roles as acting National Security Adviser, acting USAID administrator, and acting Archivist of the United States.

Karoline Leavitt signs off, for now

Leavitt, 28, had already signaled her temporary exit just days earlier. She addressed reporters in her final press gaggle on April 24.

“On a personal matter, this will likely be my last gaggle for some time. As you can see, I’m about ready to have a baby any minute, so I will see you guys very soon,” she said, resting a hand on her visibly pregnant stomach.

She added, “I know you’ll be in very good hands with my team here at the White House. And I know all of you have the president’s phone number personally,” drawing laughter from the press corps. “I have no doubt that you will have a shortage of statements and news from this building while I am gone.”

Around the same time, Leavitt opened up in a more personal Instagram post about juggling work and family life.

“When my husband and I found out we are expecting another child, my first thought was overwhelming gratitude and joy. My second thought was, ‘how the heck am I going to do this job, with a toddler, and while pregnant?’ Well, 39 weeks later and we did it. Be back soon!” she wrote.

She had briefly postponed her leave earlier to return to the briefing room following a security incident involving President Trump. “I felt it was prudent to be here today," she explained.

With Leavitt now officially on leave ahead of the expected early May arrival of her second child (a baby girl), the administration has opted not to appoint a single stand-in.

Instead, a rotating lineup of officials is expected to take turns at the podium, including Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet members, and potentially Trump himself.