Karoline Leavitt made history as the youngest White House Press Secretary in United States history, and her personal life has drawn nearly as much attention as her podium briefings. At the center of that curiosity is her husband, Nicholas Riccio, a private New Hampshire businessman who is three decades her senior. Their relationship, marriage, and growing family have become one of the most searched topics tied to her public profile.
Who Is Karoline Leavitt’s Husband?
Karoline Leavitt’s husband is Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer from New Hampshire. He is not a political figure and largely stays out of the public eye, avoiding interviews and public social media accounts. Riccio is best known publicly as the husband of the White House Press Secretary and the father of her two children.
Unlike many spouses of high profile political figures, Riccio has kept an intentionally low profile throughout Leavitt’s rise in Washington. He rarely appears at press events and has not given interviews about his marriage, letting Leavitt speak for the couple in public settings.
Karoline Leavitt Husband Age in 2026
In 2026, Nicholas Riccio is 60 years old. Karoline Leavitt is 28, which means the couple has a well documented 32 year age gap. This gap has been a recurring talking point in interviews Leavitt has given throughout 2025 and into 2026, including her appearances on The Megyn Kelly Show and the Pod Force One podcast.
Leavitt has addressed the age difference directly on multiple occasions, describing her marriage as “a very atypical love story” while emphasizing that Riccio is her biggest supporter.
How Old Is Karoline Leavitt’s Husband?
To put it plainly, Nicholas Riccio is 60 years old as of 2026. He was born decades before Leavitt, who was born in 1997. Riccio is even a few years older than Leavitt’s own mother, a detail Leavitt has openly acknowledged made the relationship harder for her parents to accept at first.
Quick Age Snapshot
- Nicholas Riccio’s age in 2026: 60 years old
- Karoline Leavitt’s age in 2026: 28 years old
- Age gap between the couple: 32 years
- Riccio is older than Leavitt’s mother
Who Is Nicholas Riccio?
Nicholas Riccio is a self made real estate developer based in New Hampshire. He grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire, alongside three siblings, and by his own account did not have a stable childhood home. He has spoken in the past about leaving home around age 18 and supporting himself through difficult circumstances, including periods of financial hardship while putting himself through college.
Riccio attended Plymouth State University before eventually building a career in real estate development. Today he owns and operates commercial property, including restaurant space in New Hampshire, which is actually how he first crossed paths with Leavitt.
Nicholas Riccio’s Age, Background, and Career
Riccio’s background is defined by self reliance. According to past interviews, he:
- Grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire with three siblings
- Experienced an unstable home life as a teenager
- Left home around age 18 and worked to support himself
- Paid his own way through Plymouth State University
- Built a career as a real estate developer in New Hampshire
- Owns commercial property, including a restaurant venue
This working class, self made background is part of why Leavitt has described him as someone she deeply admires. She has credited his life story and independence as qualities that drew her to him despite their age difference.
Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio’s Age Difference
The 32 year age gap between Leavitt and Riccio is the single most discussed aspect of their relationship online. Leavitt has not shied away from the topic. During a February 2025 appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, she called their romance “very atypical” while praising Riccio as her “greatest supporter” and “best friend.”
She has also discussed how her family initially struggled with the news. In a November 2025 interview on the Pod Force One podcast, Leavitt admitted the conversation with her parents was “definitely a challenging conversation to have at first,” partly because Riccio is older than her own mother. She added that once her parents got to know him and saw his character, the relationship became easy to accept, and the extended family now gets along well.
Leavitt has also faced blunt questions publicly, including being asked directly why she did not date someone closer to her own age. She responded candidly that she simply had not found that connection with anyone her age.
When Did Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio Get Married?
Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio got married in January 2025, just days before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The wedding came about six months after the birth of their first child, son Niko, in July 2024.
Timeline of Their Relationship
| Milestone | Date |
| First met | 2022 |
| Got engaged | December 2023 |
| First child (Niko) born | July 2024 |
| Wedding | January 2025 |
| Second child (Viviana) born | May 1, 2026 |
Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio’s Love Story
Leavitt and Riccio met in 2022 while she was running for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District, a race she ultimately lost to Democrat Chris Pappas. The two were introduced by a mutual friend who hosted a campaign event at a restaurant Riccio owns in New Hampshire.
Leavitt has described the meeting as organic rather than a formal setup. She was speaking at the event, the two were acquainted through friends, and their connection grew from there. She was 25 at the time; he was already in his late fifties. What began as a friendship developed into a serious relationship, leading to their engagement in December 2023.
Leavitt has repeatedly emphasized that despite the unconventional age gap, their bond is built on genuine compatibility. She has called him introverted and private by nature, a contrast to her own public facing career, but says his steady, supportive personality has made their partnership work.
What Does Nicholas Riccio Do for a Living?
Nicholas Riccio works as a real estate developer in New Hampshire. His business involves owning and managing commercial property, including the restaurant venue where he and Leavitt first met. He built his career independently, without relying on family wealth or connections, which Leavitt has pointed to as a source of pride and admiration.
Riccio does not hold any government or political role. He has stayed entirely outside the political sphere despite his wife’s high profile position, focusing instead on his business and, more recently, on raising their two young children.
Karoline Leavitt’s Husband and Family Life
Since the wedding in January 2025, Riccio has taken on a hands-on role at home while Leavitt manages the demands of her White House position. Leavitt has described him as deeply involved in parenting, calling him hands-on with their son and a steady presence for the family during her demanding work schedule.
The family has also weathered high pressure moments together. Just three days after Niko was born in July 2024, President Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler County, Pennsylvania, prompting Leavitt to cut her maternity leave short and return to work. Riccio’s support during that period, and again during her second maternity leave in 2026, has been highlighted by Leavitt as essential to balancing her career and family.
How Many Children Do Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio Have?
Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio have two children together.
- Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio — born July 10, 2024
- Viviana “Vivi” Riccio — born May 1, 2026
Leavitt announced her second pregnancy around Christmas 2025, calling the news “the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for.” She made history again as the first pregnant person to serve as White House Press Secretary, continuing her briefing duties throughout most of the pregnancy before beginning maternity leave in late April 2026. Viviana arrived on May 1, 2026, and Leavitt shared the news on Instagram, describing her daughter as “perfect and healthy” and noting that big brother Niko was adjusting well to his new sibling.
Karoline Leavitt and Her Husband’s Life Together
Leavitt has spoken about the personality differences between her and Riccio, noting that while she is outgoing and used to constant public attention, he is far more reserved and private. She has said this balance works well for their household, giving their children a grounded home life away from the spotlight of Washington politics.
The couple splits their time between the demands of Leavitt’s West Wing role and Riccio’s business interests in New Hampshire. Leavitt has said several of her West Wing colleagues are also raising young families, which she credits as a source of mutual support in a pro-family environment at the White House.
Key Facts About Karoline Leavitt’s Husband
- Full name: Nicholas Riccio
- Age in 2026: 60 years old
- Occupation: Real estate developer
- Hometown: Hudson, New Hampshire
- Education: Plymouth State University
- Age gap with Karoline Leavitt: 32 years
- Met Karoline Leavitt: 2022
- Engaged: December 2023
- Married: January 2025
- Children: Two, son Niko and daughter Viviana
- Public presence: No known public social media accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Karoline Leavitt married to?
Karoline Leavitt is married to Nicholas Riccio, a New Hampshire real estate developer she met in 2022.
How old is Karoline Leavitt’s husband in 2026?
Nicholas Riccio is 60 years old in 2026, making him 32 years older than Karoline Leavitt.
When did Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio get married?
They married in January 2025, just days before President Trump’s second inauguration.
How did Karoline Leavitt meet her husband?
They met in 2022 through a mutual friend at a restaurant Riccio owns in New Hampshire, while Leavitt was running for Congress.
Does Karoline Leavitt have kids?
Yes, Leavitt and Riccio have two children, son Niko born in July 2024 and daughter Viviana born in May 2026.
What does Nicholas Riccio do for work?
He is a real estate developer who owns commercial property in New Hampshire, including a restaurant.
What is the age gap between Karoline Leavitt and her husband?
The couple has a 32 year age gap, which Leavitt has openly discussed in multiple interviews.
Is Nicholas Riccio active on social media?
No, Riccio does not appear to maintain any public social media accounts and keeps a low public profile.
Final Thoughts
Nicholas Riccio’s story is unusual by Washington standards. A private, self made real estate developer from New Hampshire, he became the husband of the country’s youngest ever White House Press Secretary despite a 32 year age gap that neither of them has hidden from the public. Their relationship, which began with a chance meeting in 2022, has grown into a marriage and a family of four, with Riccio staying firmly out of the political spotlight while supporting Leavitt through one of the most demanding jobs in the country.
As Karoline Leavitt’s public role continues to draw attention, questions about her husband’s age, background, and family life are likely to keep coming up. For now, the most current facts are clear: Nicholas Riccio is 60 years old in 2026, works in real estate, and is raising two young children with his wife while staying almost entirely out of the public eye.
