Karoline Leavitt Struts in Sheer Lace at Chaos-Fueled White House Correspondents' Dinner

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, made a bold statement in a see-through lace baby blue jumpsuit at the rescheduled 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner.

On July 24, the 28-year-old was on stage with President Donald Trump, drawing criticism for her outfit deemed inappropriate for such a prestigious event. Her blonde hair was styled in an elegant up-do, complemented by matching blue eyeshadow.

Leavitt previously attended the original dinner in a sparkling black gown just before welcoming her daughter, Viviana. A surprising connection between her and the event's headliner, mentalist Oz Pearlman, emerged ahead of the dinner.

She returned to the public eye shortly after her maternity leave ended on July 16. Leavitt made history as the first White House press secretary to navigate a pregnancy while in office after announcing her pregnancy in December 2025.

Originally set to start her leave earlier, she delayed it to conduct one last press briefing regarding a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 27.

The event was initially held on April 25 at the Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., featuring high-profile guests with close ties to the White House. Chaos erupted when shots rang out in the lobby, sending 2,000 attendees into a panic as they sought shelter beneath tables or rushed for exits.

A man attempted to force his way past security into the main area of the event. Identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher and Caltech graduate from Torrance, California, he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

President Trump and First Lady Melania arrived just 20 minutes before gunfire erupted at 8:36 p.m. Video footage captured security personnel quickly surrounding them on stage while over 2,000 guests scrambled for safety.

Among those present were Washington journalists and senior White House officials. The suspect was apprehended by Secret Service agents in the lobby before he could enter the ballroom.

During the incident, he shot one Secret Service agent "from a very close distance with a very powerful gun." The officer survived thanks to his bulletproof vest and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that Allen was not hit by gunfire but was hospitalized for evaluation following his arrest. He stated that Allen was "armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives," adding that "at this point, it does appear he is a lone actor, a lone gunman."