Karoline Leavitt has stepped away from one of Washington’s most demanding jobs, putting fresh attention on her family and her husband, Nicholas Riccio.
Leavitt, who turned 29 in August 2026, completed her final day as White House press secretary on August 27. Her departure comes just months after she and Riccio welcomed their second child, daughter Viviana.
While Leavitt became one of the most recognizable faces in the Trump White House, Riccio has largely avoided the political spotlight. The New Hampshire businessman prefers a quieter life and has rarely joined his wife for high-profile public appearances.
Their marriage, 32-year age difference and growing family have nevertheless attracted considerable public interest.
Who Is Nicholas Riccio?
Nicholas Riccio is a New Hampshire businessman and real estate investor.
Long before his relationship with Leavitt became public, Riccio had established himself professionally through real estate ventures in New England.
His personality also differs considerably from his wife’s public-facing style.
Leavitt has described Riccio as an introvert and her “polar opposite.” While her career has involved television appearances, political campaigns and daily exchanges with the White House press corps, Riccio generally stays away from cameras.
Leavitt has said that despite their differences, her husband has been one of her strongest supporters.
How They Met
The couple’s story began during Leavitt’s 2022 congressional campaign in New Hampshire.
At the time, Leavitt was running as the Republican candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.
A mutual friend introduced her to Riccio at an event held at a restaurant in New Hampshire.
Their initial meeting eventually developed into a relationship.
Leavitt did not win the congressional race, but her political career continued to accelerate. She later became a spokesperson for MAGA Inc. and then joined Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Riccio remained alongside her as those professional opportunities expanded.
32-Year Age Gap
One aspect of their relationship that has generated particular curiosity is their age difference.
Leavitt and Riccio are separated by 32 years.
She has publicly acknowledged that the gap makes their relationship unconventional by typical standards. However, she has consistently defended their marriage and described Riccio as her best friend and a major source of support.
Leavitt has also indicated that she initially had some reservations about the age difference.
Those concerns ultimately did not stop their relationship from progressing.
Rather than focusing on their ages, she has emphasized Riccio’s support for her ambitions and their shared commitment to family life.
Their Engagement
Their relationship reached another milestone during the 2023 Christmas period.
Riccio proposed, and Leavitt announced their engagement publicly.
The couple’s life changed considerably over the following year as Leavitt became increasingly involved in Trump’s presidential campaign while preparing to become a mother for the first time.
Their son, Nicholas Robert Riccio, known as Niko, was born in July 2024.
Leavitt returned to campaign work shortly after his birth, beginning an unusually intense period in which new motherhood coincided with a presidential election.
January Wedding
Leavitt and Riccio married in January 2025.
Their wedding took place shortly before Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
The timing meant that Leavitt moved rapidly between two major personal and professional milestones. Within days of marrying Riccio, she entered a new phase of her political career as the incoming administration prepared to take office.
Trump selected Leavitt as his White House press secretary.
At 27, she became the youngest person ever appointed to the position.
Riccio, meanwhile, remained largely behind the scenes as his wife’s national profile increased.
Family Grows
The couple welcomed their second child on May 1, 2026.
Their daughter was named Viviana, with the family using the nickname “Vivi.”
Leavitt announced the birth several days later, saying Viviana was healthy and that Niko was adjusting to being a big brother.
The arrival of her daughter ultimately played an important part in Leavitt reassessing the demands of her White House position.
She returned from maternity leave but increasingly found herself thinking about the time she was missing with her children.
By August, she had decided to leave the press secretary role.
Riccio’s Support
On her final day in the White House, Leavitt publicly thanked her husband for what he had sacrificed during her tenure.
Speaking to NewsNation, she explained that Riccio had stepped away from parts of his own professional life to support her work in Washington.
The arrangement required adjustments from the entire family.
Leavitt described balancing motherhood with her White House responsibilities as challenging, particularly because the job could consume nearly every hour of the day.
She credited Riccio with helping make that demanding period possible.
His willingness to support her career is particularly notable given his preference for remaining outside public life.
Leaving the White House
Leavitt’s final day as White House press secretary was August 27, 2026.
Her departure does not mean she is leaving politics.
Instead, she is expected to return to MAGA Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC where she worked before joining Trump’s presidential campaign. The transition will allow her to remain politically active while gaining more flexibility for her family.
Leavitt has said her children are at ages when she wants to be more consistently present.
Niko is 2, while Viviana is still an infant.
The decision therefore represents a change in professional pace rather than a complete withdrawal from Trump’s political operation.
Life After Washington
For Leavitt and Riccio, the transition begins a different stage of a relationship that has already developed alongside major political and family changes.
Since meeting during her 2022 congressional campaign, they have become engaged, welcomed two children and married while Leavitt rose to one of the most visible communications jobs in American politics.
Riccio has rarely sought the attention that accompanied that rise.
Yet Leavitt’s comments on her way out of the White House made his role in her life particularly clear.
For people searching for Karoline Leavitt’s husband, Nicholas Riccio is a businessman whose relationship with the former press secretary began before her rise to the White House. Despite their 32-year age difference and contrasting personalities, Leavitt has repeatedly described him as a central source of support.
Now, with her White House tenure over and two young children at home, family life is set to occupy a much larger part of Leavitt’s next chapter.
