Karoline Leavitt opens up on 32-year age gap with husband and family’s initial reaction

Karoline Leavitt, 28, admits it’s unusual she married a man older than her mother

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has openly addressed the 32-year age gap between her and her husband, Nicholas Riccio. Leavitt, 28, married Riccio, 60, in January 2025, just days before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

In a recent interview on the Pod Force One with Miranda Devine podcast, Leavitt described her marriage as “unusual” and acknowledged that her parents were initially hesitant about the relationship.

"It is unusual," she said. When asked whether she could have found someone her own age who was equally mature, Leavitt laughed and replied, “Honestly, no, if you want to know the truth.”

Leavitt explained that she met Riccio, a real estate developer, in 2022 through mutual friends while she was running for Congress in New Hampshire, an election she ultimately lost. She admitted that the initial conversation with her parents was challenging, especially since her mother is younger than Riccio. “It's definitely a challenging conversation to have at first,” she said.

Also read: 'PM Modi called…': Trump again claims he averted India-Pak nuclear clash with 350% tariff threat

However, Leavitt added that once her parents got to know Riccio, they quickly accepted him. “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 said.

“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.”

Describing Riccio’s character, Leavitt said, “We 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. He's very introverted, unlike me.

He stays behind the scenes. He's not on social media. 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.”

Leavitt’s remarks highlight both the unusual nature of her marriage and the respect and admiration she has for her husband’s accomplishments and character, as well as the eventual acceptance of their union by her family.