Karoline Leavitt’s marriage to Nicholas Riccio is one of those rare political love stories that feels both modern and timeless, blending ambition, romance, and an unconventional age gap that keeps people talking. At just 27, Leavitt became one of the youngest White House press secretaries in history under Donald Trump’s second term, while Riccio, at 59, is a self-made real estate mogul with a rags-to-riches backstory.
Their relationship isn’t just about the 32 years between them—it’s about two people from wildly different worlds finding common ground in loyalty, hustle, and a shared love for New Hampshire, where their paths first crossed.
Who Is Karoline Leavitt’s Husband, Nicholas “Nick” Riccio?
Nick’s life reads like a script from a gritty indie film. He was homeless at 18, crashing on friends’ couches and scraping by before he turned his life around through real estate. He didn’t come from money or connections. Instead, he built his empire from the ground up, focusing on distressed properties in Hampton Beach and transforming them into profitable ventures. By the time he met Leavitt, he had already amassed a multimillion-dollar portfolio and a reputation as a shrewd businessman who preferred staying out of the spotlight. That low-key demeanor made him an unlikely match for a rising political star whose job required constant media attention.
They met in 2022, back when Leavitt was running for Congress in New Hampshire. A mutual friend set them up at an event held in one of Riccio’s restaurants, and something just clicked. Leavitt has described their connection as instant, not in a flashy, love-at-first-sight way, but in the quiet understanding that they balanced each other out. She’s the outgoing, fast-talking political operative who thrives in chaos. He’s the introverted, steady-handed partner who’d rather renovate a crumbling building than attend a glitzy D.C. party. Opposites attracted, and within a couple of years, they were engaged, married, and parents to a baby boy named Niko.
The age gap, of course, became instant fodder for gossip. Critics raised eyebrows, questioning everything from power dynamics to generational differences. But Karoline Leavitt has always brushed off the scrutiny with a mix of humor and defiance. She calls Nick her “rock,” the guy who keeps her grounded when her job gets overwhelming. He, in turn, seems genuinely unfazed by the attention, content to play the role of supportive husband and hands-on dad while she navigates the high-stakes world of Trump’s White House. Their dynamic works precisely because they don’t try to conform to anyone else’s expectations.
Parenthood added another layer to their story. Leavitt gave birth to Niko in July 2024 and was back at work within weeks, a decision she’s been open about struggling with. Riccio, with his flexible schedule, became the primary caregiver during her long hours, a role reversal that defies traditional political spouse stereotypes. She’s joked that he changes diapers like a pro and knows their son’s routine better than she does. It’s a partnership built on practicality as much as romance, one where they’ve carved out their own version of balance in a life that could easily tilt into chaos.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27 shared insight into her “atypical” relationship with husband Nicholas Riccio, 59, in a revealing interview. pic.twitter.com/ax6zgUda66
— E! News (@enews) March 18, 2025
Their rare public appearances together—like the 2025 White House Easter Egg Roll—only fuel public fascination. Photos showed Riccio holding their son, looking more like a proud dad than a man three decades older than his wife. The internet buzzed about his “age-defying” looks, but the real story was the quiet normalcy they seemed to project amid the political circus. In a town where power couples often perform for the cameras, Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio come across as refreshingly real, more likely to argue over who forgot to pack the baby’s snacks than to stage a perfect photo op.
What makes their relationship compelling isn’t just the headline-friendly age gap or the political backdrop. It’s the way they’ve built something that works for them, ignoring the noise and focusing on what matters. Leavitt’s career is skyrocketing, Riccio’s business is thriving, and they’re raising a kid in the middle of it all. They’re not trying to be a poster couple for anything—not for May-December romances, not for political marriages, not for modern parenting. They’re just two people who fell in love, made a life together, and happen to do it all in the public eye. And whether people approve or not, they’re clearly having the last laugh.
