PHOTO: THE US PRESS SECRETARY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT — AND HER REAL ESTATE TYCOON HUSBAND. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. PEOPLE
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House Press Secretary in US history, is making headlines again — not for a press briefing, but for an unusually candid conversation about her deeply unconventional marriage to real estate investor Nicholas Riccio, a man 32 years older.
The 28-year-old political powerhouse opened up about the “challenging” moment she told her parents about the relationship — and about the extraordinary love story that began on the campaign trail and has now become the centre of Washington, DC gossip.
💬 “Everyone Here Is Shocked”: A Romance with a 32-Year Gap
Appearing on the New York Post’s Pod Force One, Leavitt laughed off the blunt question: “Could you not find boys your own age?”
Her answer?
“Honestly? No.”
Calling the age gap “very unusual,” Leavitt says the connection was instant — long before romance entered the picture.
She met Riccio while campaigning in New Hampshire, introduced through a mutual friend who owned a restaurant.
“We were friends first for quite some time. Then of course… we fell in love.”
The couple married in January 2025, shortly before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, and welcomed their son, Niko, in 2024.
😬 HER PARENTS’ REACTION? “A VERY CHALLENGING CONVERSATION.”
Leavitt admits telling her parents — Bob and Erin — was one of the most difficult moments of her life.
“It’s definitely a challenging conversation at first… but once they saw his character and how much he adores me, it became easy.”
Today, the families are close — even enjoying holidays together.
🏡 WHO IS NICHOLAS RICCIO? THE REAL ESTATE INVESTOR WHO BUILT A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EMPIRE FROM NOTHING
Riccio, now 60, is a self-made property investor with a portfolio spanning:
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10 homes across New Hampshire and West Virginia
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A property empire worth around $6 million
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A reputation for revitalising low-income, neglected neighbourhoods
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Ownership of Nautical Beach Properties
But the success didn’t come easy.
Riccio experienced homelessness in his teens, couch-hopped, and even slept in his car. He stocked supermarket shelves to put himself through university, took a real estate course in 1990 — and never looked back.
One building purchase turned into two… then ten… and then a reputation as the man who breathed life back into streets that had been left to decay.
His background is a major reason Leavitt says:
“He’s my rock… my greatest supporter… the best father I could ever ask for.”
🍼 THE WHITE HOUSE, MOTHERHOOD & A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER
Balancing motherhood with the West Wing is no small task.
Leavitt says Riccio’s willingness to step back from daily business operations has been essential:
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He cares for their son
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Manages the home
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Supports her high-pressure political life
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Finances helped fund her congressional campaign
“He’s incredibly hands-on. I walked into his life and it’s been a circus ever since, but he’s fully on board.”
Even President Trump, she says, has been “very kind” to baby Niko.
🎤 CRITICS? SHE’S HEARD THEM ALL — AND SHE’S UNBOTHERED
Since her January debut at the White House podium, Leavitt’s age-gap marriage has been the subject of brutal online scrutiny.
But she’s not rattled:
“It’s a very atypical love story… but he’s incredible.”
She says their dynamic works because Riccio had already built his career and financial foundation, giving her the space to grow hers.
🔥 A POWER COUPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT ORIGINS — AND ONE BIG THING IN COMMON
Despite their age gap and drastically different life journeys, the pair share:
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New Hampshire roots
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A deep commitment to family
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A love of service
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And a desire to build something meaningful
Whether in the White House briefing room or on the property ladder, they’ve become an unlikely but compelling power couple — one dominating US politics, the other transforming forgotten American streets one home at a time.
🏁 BOTTOM LINE: A WHITE HOUSE STORY THAT’S MORE ABOUT LOVE, RESILIENCE & REAL ESTATE THAN POLITICS
Karoline Leavitt’s story isn’t just about controversy — it’s about:
✔ A US Press Secretary breaking age barriers
✔ A real estate investor who rose from homelessness to multi-millionaire
✔ A marriage that survived scrutiny, family concerns & public pressure
✔ A partnership built on support, sacrifice & absolute commitment
Love it or judge it — this is one of the most fascinating personal stories to come out of Washington in years.
SOURCE: REALTOR.COM