If you’ve been scrolling through social media or watching the White House briefings lately, you’ve probably seen Karoline Leavitt. She’s fast, she’s sharp, and honestly, she’s making history as the youngest White House Press Secretary ever. But whenever someone blows up in the public eye that quickly, people start digging. They want to know the personal stuff. Specifically, people are asking about the Karoline Leavitt husband married before rumors. Was there a secret first marriage? A past life before the MAGA spotlight?
Let’s just clear the air right now. Karoline Leavitt has only been married once. Her one and only husband is Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer from New Hampshire.
There isn’t some hidden ex-husband or a messy divorce in her 20s. She’s only 28, after all. Her rise has been so meteoric that it feels like she must have lived three lives already, but in reality, her marriage to Riccio is her first foray into holy matrimony. They tied the knot in January 2025, just days before she took over the podium in the West Wing.
Who is Nicholas Riccio anyway?
So, if there’s no secret "first husband," who is the guy she actually did marry? Nicholas Riccio isn't a political operative. He’s not a DC insider. He’s a self-made real estate guy from the 603.
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The most talked-about thing—besides the fact that she wasn't married before—is the age gap. Riccio is 60. Leavitt is 28. That’s a 32-year difference. In a town like Washington where everything is scrutinized, that's basically a lightning rod for commentary. Leavitt hasn't shied away from it, though. She’s called it an "atypical love story" during her sit-down with Megyn Kelly.
Riccio's backstory is actually kind of wild. He didn't start with a silver spoon. He’s talked about being homeless at 18 and having to crash at friends' houses just to use their shower. He built a real estate empire (Riccio Enterprises) from the ground up, mostly centered around Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
The timeline of their relationship
- The Meeting (2022): They met while she was running for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. It happened at a restaurant owned by a mutual friend.
- The Engagement (Christmas 2023): Riccio popped the question in New Hampshire. Karoline posted the ring on Instagram, calling him the "man of her dreams."
- The First Baby (July 2024): They welcomed their son, Nicholas Robert Riccio (nicknamed "Niko").
- The Wedding (January 2025): They finally made it official at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, NH, just before the inauguration.
Why people think she was married before
It's a weird phenomenon. When a young woman reaches a high level of power, the internet assumes there’s a "complicated" past. Some of the confusion about Karoline Leavitt husband married before likely comes from her high-profile 2022 campaign. During that time, she was constantly in the news, and people often mistake long-term partners or campaign staff for spouses.
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Also, because Riccio is older, some observers baselessly assumed he might be a second husband or that she had a "starter marriage" in her early 20s while working in the first Trump administration. There is zero evidence for this. Her records, her Catholic background, and her own public statements all point to this being her first and only marriage.
The "Atypical" reality of their life
Honestly, their life sounds exhausting but grounded. While she’s battling reporters in the briefing room, Riccio is reportedly the one holding down the fort. Because he’s already "made it" in business, he has the flexibility to be a hands-on dad.
Leavitt has been very open about the fact that his stability is what allows her to do a job that basically requires 24/7 availability. She even went back to work just days after giving birth to Niko because of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July 2024. Talk about a "no days off" mentality.
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Right now, the couple is expecting their second child—a baby girl due in May 2026. This will make her the first-ever pregnant White House Press Secretary to serve in the role.
What to take away from the rumors
If you came here looking for a scandalous divorce record or a "hidden" first husband, you're going to be disappointed. The story is actually much more straightforward:
- No past marriages: Karoline Leavitt has no former husbands.
- Nicholas Riccio is the one: They met during her political ascent and have stayed together through the chaos of two national campaigns.
- The Age Gap is a non-issue for them: Despite the 32-year difference, they appear to have a partnership where his business success supports her political ambitions.
It’s easy to get caught up in the "internet sleuthing" trap, but sometimes the truth is just what's right in front of you. She's a young, ambitious New Hampshirite who married a successful guy from her home state.
If you want to keep up with the latest on her briefings or her family updates, her Instagram is usually the first place she posts. Just don't expect to see a lot of Riccio there; she’s mentioned before that he’s a massive introvert and prefers to stay out of the digital "circus" that defines her professional life.
Actionable Insight: If you're researching public figures, always cross-reference "married before" claims with local New Hampshire news archives or FEC filings from their campaigns, as these are more reliable than social media rumors.