Karoline Leavitt’s ‘meet my 60-year-old husband’ talk with mom and dad was peak awkward — here’s what happened

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed about the most uncomfortable phase in her relationship, it wasn’t the media scrutiny of her marriage with a man more than 30 years her senior. The 28-year-old disclosed that the real difficult part came when she had to inform the age gap to her parents.

What Was the Toughest Part of Revealing Her Relationship?

Leavitt stated that the conversation was emotionally challenging, describing on Pod Force One that “It’s definitely a challenging conversation to have at first.” Her husband, real-estate businessman Nicholas Riccio, was born in 1965, making him a bit older than her mother, born in 1970, and just a few years younger than her 65-year-old father.

How Did the Couple Meet and Begin Their Relationship?

Riccio, currency 60, leads Riccio Enterprises, a company that manages a network of beachfront rental assets in New Hampshire. Both initially connected in 2022, when Leavitt was 25 and campaigning for Congress. She also remembered how they originally met. “A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns up in New Hampshire and invited my husband,” Leavitt said. “I was speaking. We met and we were acquainted as friends. And then we fell in love.” At the time, she later lost her congressional bid to Representative Chris Pappas.

How Did Her Parents React to the Age Gap?

According to Leavitt, her parents’ worries eased once they spent time with Riccio. “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,” she cited.

How Has Their Relationship Evolved Amid Leavitt’s Political Rise?

Their partnership has developed along with Leavitt’s ascent in national politics. Handpicked by former President Donald Trump, she became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary. Apart from the workload and public attention, she said their connection strengthened through it all. The pair welcomed their son, Niko, in July 2024 and tied the knot in January 2025, just two days before Trump’s second inauguration.

Leavitt stated that her family dynamic feels natural and steady now. “I mean, it’s a typical family relationship, and my husband has such respect for my parents in the way that they raised me,” she mentioned. “We all have a lot of fun together when they come to visit.”

Has She Addressed Their Relationship Publicly Before?

This is not the first occasion she has discussed their relationship publicly. During a March appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, she referred to their love “a very atypical love story, but he’s incredible.”

What Is Nicholas Riccio’s Background?

Riccio’s background reflects a classic narrative of persistence. Brought up in Hudson, New Hampshire, he was one of four children and experienced situations of financial struggle, as he once stated with the Sunday Herald. After attending Plymouth State University, he enrolled in a real-estate course that ignited the career he would spend decades building. His company has since extended in Hampton Beach, where he now owns more than 15 rental assets catering to vacationers.

FAQs:

1. Who is Karoline Leavitt?
She is the current White House press secretary and a prominent political personality. Leavitt previously ran for Congress in New Hampshire.

2. What is the age gap in Karoline Leavitt’s relationship?
There is a 32-year age difference between Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio which has gained public interest in regard to the large gap.