You’ve probably seen her at the podium. Sharp. Fast-talking. Unflappable. Karoline Leavitt made waves as the youngest White House Press Secretary in history, but as soon as she stepped into that bright D.C. spotlight, people started asking about the man standing behind her. Or rather, the man usually seen holding their toddler on the sidelines.
His name is Nicholas Riccio.
Honestly, the internet has a lot of opinions about him. Most of those opinions boil down to one specific number: 32. That is the age gap between Karoline, 28, and Nicholas, 60. It’s the kind of detail that makes people do a double-take, and it’s certainly fueled more than a few tabloid headlines. But if you look past the birth dates, the story of the Karoline Leavitt husband is actually one of those "only in America" tales involving homelessness, real estate empires, and a very awkward conversation with the in-laws.
The Man Behind the Headlines: Who is Nicholas Riccio?
Nicholas Riccio isn't some D.C. insider. He’s a New Hampshire guy through and through. While his wife is comfortable in front of a dozen television cameras, Nicholas is, by all accounts, "very introverted." Karoline has joked in interviews that he basically hates social media.
He grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire, one of four kids. Life wasn't exactly easy for him early on. His parents, Anthony and Marilyn, divorced when he was young, and things got pretty unstable. By the time he was 18, Nicholas was actually living on the streets. He’s talked before about how he used to call up friends and ask to come over to "watch a game" just so he could use their shower.
He put himself through Plymouth State University by stocking grocery shelves and borrowing whatever he could. He even slept in his car for a while when rent was too much. It’s a far cry from the multimillion-dollar real estate developer he is today.
Building an Empire from Scratch
After college, Nicholas took a real estate course in 1990 that changed everything. He didn't start with a trust fund. He started by flipping houses in Hampton Beach in the early 2000s.
Eventually, he founded Riccio Enterprises LLC and its subsidiary, Nautical Beach Properties. Today, he owns more than 15 buildings in the Hampton Beach area. If you’ve ever rented a summer spot in that part of New England, there’s a decent chance he was your landlord. This business success is exactly what allowed him to step back and play the "stay-at-home-dad" role when Karoline’s career went into overdrive.
The 32-Year Age Gap: "It Was Challenging"
Let’s be real. A 32-year age difference is going to raise eyebrows. Karoline was 25 when they met; he was in his late 50s. She’s younger than some of his previous real estate ventures.
In a 2025 interview on the Pod Force One podcast, Karoline was pretty blunt about the "atypical" nature of their marriage. When asked why she didn't date guys her own age, she laughed and said she couldn't find any who were mature enough.
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But it wasn't an easy sell for everyone.
Karoline has admitted that telling her parents, Bob and Erin, was a "challenging" conversation. Her mother is actually younger than Nicholas. That’s a tough Thanksgiving dinner to navigate. According to Karoline, once they saw how much he "adores" her and his character as a "self-made man," the tension faded. Now, they're apparently all friends who hang out when the parents visit D.C.
How the Karoline Leavitt Husband Met the Press Secretary
They didn't meet in Washington. They met in New Hampshire in 2022.
At the time, Karoline was running for a congressional seat. A mutual friend hosted a political event at a restaurant that Nicholas happened to own. She was the speaker; he was the guy in the back.
They started as friends. Since Nicholas was already successful and established, he was able to help fund her (ultimately unsuccessful) bid for Congress. But while she lost the election to Chris Pappas, she ended up with a partner. They went "Instagram official" on Christmas Day 2023 when he proposed.
A Wedding and a Baby (in that order... mostly)
Their son, Nicholas Robert "Niko" Riccio, was born on July 10, 2024. Interestingly, they weren't actually married yet. The wedding didn't happen until January 2025, just days before President Trump’s second inauguration. They tied the knot in a private ceremony at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire.
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2026: A Growing Family in the West Wing
Life hasn't slowed down for the couple. As of early 2026, Karoline is making history again—not just as the youngest press secretary, but as the first pregnant one.
In late 2025, she announced they are expecting their second child, a baby girl, due in May 2026. This has created a unique dynamic in the White House. While Karoline handles the "no-nonsense" press briefings, Nicholas is often the one managing the home front and their son, Niko.
She calls him her "rock" and her "number one fan." He reportedly watches every single press briefing from home.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking at the Karoline Leavitt husband story for lessons, there are a few practical takeaways regarding modern relationships and career dynamics:
- The "Supportive Spouse" Model: Nicholas’s financial independence allows him to be a "hands-on father" while Karoline pursues a high-intensity career. This role reversal is becoming more common in high-power professional circles.
- Navigating Age Gaps: If you're in a relationship with a significant age difference, the "Leavitt Method" seems to be radical transparency. She doesn't hide the gap; she acknowledges it’s "unusual" but focuses on the shared values of hard work and "self-made" success.
- Privacy in the Public Eye: Despite her very public role, Nicholas remains "very private." This shows that you can maintain a boundary between a public-facing career and a private family life if both partners are on the same page about social media and public appearances.
Nicholas Riccio might be 32 years older than his wife, and he might have started his life on the streets, but in the high-stakes world of the White House, he’s found a role that works for their family. Whether you find the age gap "atypical" or just a footnote, there's no denying that this duo has rewritten the rules of the traditional political marriage.
For those following the family's journey, the next big milestone is the arrival of their daughter in May 2026. It will be a first for the White House Press Office, and undoubtedly, Nicholas will be the one watching from the wings, child in tow, avoiding the cameras as much as possible.