Nurse Fired After Wishing Harm on White House Press Secretary

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Lexie Lawler, a labor and delivery nurse in Florida, was fired from her job at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital after she posted a video on social media wishing a devastating childbirth injury on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is pregnant. Lawler's husband has set up a GoFundMe page claiming she was fired for 'political speech', but many people are donating small amounts just to leave critical comments about her actions.

Why it matters

Healthcare professionals are expected to uphold high ethical standards and provide care to all patients regardless of their political beliefs. Lawler's public comments wishing harm on a pregnant woman crossed a clear moral line and undermined public trust in the medical profession.

The details

In the video, Lawler said it 'gives [her] great joy' to wish that Leavitt would suffer a fourth-degree vaginal tear during childbirth, using explicit and profane language. Fourth-degree tears are the most severe type of obstetric tear, going through the anal sphincter and into the rectum. Lawler's husband has set up a GoFundMe page claiming she was fired for 'political speech', but many people are donating small amounts just to leave critical comments about her actions.

• Lawler posted the video on social media in early 2026.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Lexie Lawler to receive unemployment benefits after her termination.