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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been open to her unusual marriage dynamic.
Leavitt is 32 years younger than her husband, Nicholas Riccio. Though the age difference doesn’t seem to bother either of them, she’s admitted that it took some time for her parents to come around.
“It’s definitely a challenging conversation to have at first. But then, of course, once they got to know him and saw who he is as a man, and his character and how much he adores me, I think it became quite easy for them,” Leavitt told Miranda Devine in November 2025.
Leavitt and her husband welcomed their first child together in July 2024. They announced they were expecting their second baby, a little girl, in December 2025.
“The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for — a baby girl coming in May 2026,” Leavitt revealed via Instagram. “My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.”
Keep scrolling to read everything Leavitt has said to defend her age-gap marriage.
She Couldn’t Find ‘Mature’ Men Her Age
During an appearance on “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine” in November 2025, Leavitt admitted her age-gap marriage is “unusual” — but that she didn’t have a lot of options. After Devine asked, “Could you not find boys your own age, who are as mature?” Leavitt said she definitely struggled.
“Honestly, no, if you want to know the truth,” she said.
Her Husband Supports Her High-Stakes Career
Karoline Leavitt Courtesy of Karoline Leavitt/Instagram
Leavitt also told Devine that because Riccio has already built his own successful career, he’s better able to support her as she cultivates a forward-facing political career.
“He is amazing,” Leavitt gushed of her husband. “He’s a self-made man, which I respect… He’s built his career, so he’s in a place where he can support me in mine.”
Telling Her Parents About The Relationship Was “Challenging”
Leavitt also told Devine she had a “challenging” conversation with her parents when she first told them about Riccio, in part because her mother is younger than her husband.
“It’s definitely a challenging conversation to have at first,” she admitted. “But then, of course, once they got to know him and saw who he is as a man, and his character and how much he adores me, I think it became quite easy for them. And now we’re all friends. I mean, it’s a typical family relationship. My husband has such respect for my parents and the way that they raised me, and we all have a lot of fun together when they come to visit.”
Her Husband Is An Introvert
Leavitt also said she and Riccio differ in how they approach social media and the public. “He stays behind the scenes. He’s not on social media. He’s very private and he’s an incredibly hands-on father,” she explained. “He and my son are just the best of friends.”
Her Husband Made Her Return To Work Possible
Karoline Leavitt Courtesy of Karoline Leavitt/Instagram
Leavitt returned to work soon after giving birth due to the July 2024 assassination attempt against President Donald Trump.
“[The assassination attempt] kind of threw me right back to work much sooner than I would have probably expected or hoped,” she told Megyn Kelly in February 2025. “But becoming a mother in the midst of this very chaotic political world that I work in has been the best thing I could have ever imagined because it gives you great perspective and it humbles you.”
She added, “My son doesn’t give a crap about my job. He just wants me to come home and snuggle and play with toys and be present. It is a difficult balance to prioritize being good at my job and being good as a mother, but I just try to prioritize my time and carve out that time when I can.”
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Riccio played a key role in making that return possible, she also explained.
“I am so grateful to have the support system I do,” Leavitt said. “[I have] a great husband who can be very present with our child and then, of course, a wonderful mother and father and friends who chip in when I need them.”
