Karoline Leavitt is inviting questions about her personal life. The 27-year-old White House press secretary recently shared insights into her relationship with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 59, openly discussing their 32-year age difference.
“It’s a very atypical love story, but he’s incredible,” she told Megyn Kelly on her show per E!News. “He is my greatest supporter, he’s my best friend, he’s my rock.”
“A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns up in New Hampshire and invited my husband,” she said. “I was speaking. We met, we were acquainted as friends and then we fell in love.”
Leavitt launched her political career in Washington, D.C., serving as a White House assistant press secretary under President Donald Trump before becoming communications director for Representative Elise Stefanik. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District, and although she did not win, her campaign elevated her profile within the Republican Party, ultimately leading to a key role in Trump’s second administration.
During that same campaign, Leavitt met real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, who would later become her husband. Despite her electoral loss, the experience not only shaped her political trajectory but also introduced her to her future partner. Now, as the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, Leavitt continues to make her mark in conservative politics.
After getting engaged in 2023, the couple welcomed their son, Nicholas Robert “Niko” Riccio, in July. Now 8 months old, Niko arrived just months before Leavitt and Riccio tied the knot—two weeks ahead of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January. Reflecting on their wedding, Leavitt recently described it as “one of my favorite days” in an Instagram post.
As she takes on the demands of her new role, Leavitt noted that the generational gap between her and her husband has provided a unique advantage in her professional journey.
Leavitt highlighted Riccio’s success as a businessman, emphasizing his unwavering support for her as she advances in her own career. She noted that his encouragement has been especially valuable during this particularly hectic time in their lives.
