Inside gun-loving Karoline Leavitt’s 32-year age-gap marriage after secret wedding to homeless man turned millionaire
KAROLINE Leavitt has managed to keep her marriage private despite drawing national attention as Donald Trump’s White House press secretary.
The 27-year-old New Hampshire native married real estate mogul Nicholas Riccio, 59, in secret months before their first son, Niko, was born in July 2024.
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Nicholas Riccio, Karoline Leavitt, and their baby NikoCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Riccio proposed to Leavitt in December 2023Credit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Leavitt showed off her engagement ring on InstagramCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
As a Gen Z Republican, Leavitt consistently shares personal and political updates on her Instagram page, where she has over 344,000 followers.
The gun-loving mom has become known for her outspoken and fiery nature, especially after she fired back at reporters and called out former President Joe Biden during her first press briefing on Tuesday.
However, Leavitt has mostly kept quiet about her marriage to Riccio beyond announcing their engagement with a picture of her diamond ring on Christmas 2023.
“I get to marry the man of my dreams. I feel SO overwhelmingly BLESSED. Thank you God,” she wrote at the time.
Before announcing their engagement, Leavitt posted rare pictures of Riccio and explained that the real estate developer preferred to stay away from social media.
In a comment on the engagement post that now appears to be deleted, Leavitt revealed that the two met through “a mutual friend at a political function,” according to the Daily Mail.
Leavitt also calmed worries from her Instagram followers who wondered about Riccio’s whereabouts when he wasn’t featured in a post about their newborn in July.
“He’s right by our side!” Leavitt commented at the time.
“He just hates social media and I respect that.”
Leavitt and Riccio have a 32-year age gap between them, which has caused online critics to question the relationship.
Meet Donald Trump’s new press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, as she becomes youngest person to hold coveted position
However, the backlash hasn’t stopped Leavitt from posting about her family life.
“He doesn’t have social media and he’s an introvert (complete opposite of me),” she has shared on Instagram.
“I respect his privacy on here – but he’s my number one fan, the best dad, and just the best man I’ve ever met.”
It’s unclear when Leavitt and Riccio officially tied the knot, but she’s publicly referred to him as her husband multiple times.
RAGS TO RICHES
Riccio is a real estate developer and the manager of a multimillion-dollar business, Riccio Enterprises LLC.
But the successful entrepreneur wasn’t always well-off – before he started his real estate company, Riccio spent years without a stable home.
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Riccio and Leavitt, who is the youngest-ever White House press secretaryCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Riccio and Levitt, who have a 32-year age differenceCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Leavitt and her son, Niko, who was born in July 2024Credit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
He was living on the streets by the age of 18, according to the Portsmouth Herald.
“When I was 19 or 20, I would call my buddies to go over their houses to watch a game just so I could take a shower,” Riccio told the local newspaper in 2005.
After graduating from Plymouth State University, he took a real estate course in 1990 that kickstarted his career.
He now has his own company, which owns a business called Nautical Beach Properties that rents out vacation homes in New Hampshire.
Get to know Karoline Leavitt
Donald Trump’s press secretary is the youngest White House press secretary ever at 27.
Here are some fast facts about Karoline Leavitt:
She was raised Catholic in Atkinson, New Hampshire
She attended Saint Anselm College
She started her college’s first broadcasting club
She interned at Fox News during college
She worked as the assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany
She won the Republican primary for the US House of Representatives in New Hampshire in 2022
She’s married to 59-year-old entrepreneur Nicholas Riccio
She gave birth to her first son, Niko, in July 2024
She went back to work for Trump days after giving birth
She had her mic cut off in a CNN interview in June 2024 after criticizing presidential debate moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper
Riccio has shown his support for his Leavitt by joining her campaign’s finance committee when she ran for an open New Hampshire congressional seat in 2022, according to NOTUS.
Leavitt, who lost the general election, ran on a platform of gun rights and conservative values.
She killed it! It was the most successful debut ever, and a clear contrast to the previous Administration.”
Steven Cheung
In July 2022, she posted a video of herself shooting a gun and captioned it challenging Biden to “come and take it.”
Her love of guns and dislike of Biden has been a running theme on her Instagram page as she posted harsh criticism of the former president throughout his term.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Leavitt emphasized that her time at the podium would look much different than Biden’s last four years, starting with an initiative to bring new media voices, including podcasters and influencers, into the briefing room.
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Leavitt during her first White House press briefing on January 28, 2025Credit: Splash
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Leavitt posted a video of her shooting a gun and told Joe Biden to ‘come and take it’Credit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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President Donald Trump and Karoline LeavittCredit: karolineleavitt/Instagram
“She killed it!” White House communications director Steven Cheung told The U.S. Sun. about Leavitt.
“It was the most successful debut ever and a clear contrast to the previous administration.”
Leavitt has long shown her dedication to Trump’s mission – even returning to work just days after giving birth.
She said she was inspired to get back on the campaign trail after witnessing the assassination attempt on Trump during his rally on July 13, 2024.
“I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’” Leavitt told conservative outlet The Conservateur in October.
“I felt compelled to be present in this historic moment,” she added.
“The president literally put his life on the line to win this election. The least I could do is get back to work quickly.”
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Leavitt walking with Trump ahead of the inaugurationCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Leavitt kissing her son, NikoCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
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Leavitt and Ricco, who had their first son in July 2024Credit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
