Karoline Leavitt opens up about 'unusual' age gap with husband who is older than her mother

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discussed her 32-year age gap with husband Nicholas Riccio in a recent podcast interview.

She explained that although the age difference was something her parents were concerned about initially but over time they accepted the relationship.

Karoline Leavitt acknowledges the ‘unusual’ union

Notably, the 28-year-old White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, married the 60-year-old real estate developer Nicholas Riccio in January 2025, right before President Donald Trump's inauguration. She addressed the age difference on the ‘Pod Force One’ with Miranda Devine podcast. 

Leavitt said, "My marriage is unusual." When the host asked, "Could you not find boys your own age, who are as mature?" Leavitt laughed and said, “Honestly, no, if you want to know the truth.” 

She described that she met Riccio for the first time in 2022 through mutual friends while she was campaigning for Congress in New Hampshire, an election she eventually lost.

Karoline Leavitt talks about how her family accepted the relationship

Leavitt explained that her parents were initially uneasy about the relationship, in part because her mother is younger than Riccio. 

She conceded, “It's definitely a tough conversation to have at first.” Then, their attitude changed upon getting to know her husband. 

Leavitt clarified, “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.” 

She continued with their family dynamic as it stands today: “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.”

Karoline Leavitt says her husband is an introvert and prefers staying behind scenes

Speaking of her love story, Leavitt revealed that she and Riccio were "acquainted as friends for quite some time, but then of course we fell in love. And here we are today. We are married, we have a beautiful baby. And he is just an amazing guy." 

She said that his personality was just the opposite of hers. "He's very introverted, unlike me," and "he stays behind the scenes. He's not on social media," she said.

Praising his ambition, Leavitt clarified, "And he’s a self-made man, which I respect. He has a successful real estate business back home. He’s built his career, so he’s in a place where he can support me in mine."