On December 26, 2025, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary and the youngest to ever hold the position, announced that she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, are expecting their second child—a baby girl due in May 2026. The announcement, made via a heartfelt Instagram post, instantly reignited public curiosity about the couple, their family dynamic, and the unique path that brought them to this historic moment.
Leavitt, 28, broke new ground earlier this year when she became the first expectant White House press secretary in American history, according to Politico. Her post, accompanied by photos of her cradling her belly near a Christmas tree and her son Niko holding a teddy bear labeled "I'm the big brother," radiated personal joy and gratitude. "The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for—a baby girl coming in May 2026," she wrote. "My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth."
The couple’s journey has been anything but conventional, drawing both admiration and scrutiny. Leavitt’s husband, Nicholas Riccio, is a 60-year-old real estate developer from New Hampshire—32 years her senior. Their relationship, which began in 2022 during Leavitt’s congressional campaign, was initially met with skepticism, especially from Leavitt’s parents. As she candidly shared on the Pod Force One podcast, "It’s definitely a challenging conversation to have at first. 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, and now we’re all friends."
Riccio’s background is a classic tale of grit and entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up in Hudson, New Hampshire, he faced financial insecurity before attending Plymouth State University. After college, Riccio dove into real estate, initially inspired while driving through Hampton Beach and seeing potential in rundown properties. By 2005, as reported by Seacoastline.com, Riccio had acquired 15 buildings, including 70 living units. He now owns Riccio Enterprises, a company with a portfolio spanning from Boston to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, encompassing more than a dozen rental properties. Despite his wife’s high-profile position, Riccio has largely avoided the political spotlight, maintaining a low public profile and focusing on his business.
Their love story, which Leavitt herself has described as “atypical,” blossomed amid the pressures of political campaigning. After meeting in 2022, the couple became engaged in December 2023 and married in January 2025, just ahead of President Trump’s second inauguration. Their first child, Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio, was born in July 2024—six months before their wedding. Leavitt has openly credited Riccio as her “greatest supporter,” “best friend,” and “rock,” emphasizing that his steadfast encouragement has allowed her to pursue a demanding political career. In interviews, she’s called him “incredible” and highlighted the mutual respect at the heart of their partnership.
Leavitt’s tenure as press secretary has been marked by a series of firsts. Appointed at age 27 in January 2025, she became the youngest person to ever serve in the role, according to Politico and The Daily Beast. Her rapid rise followed a stint as Trump’s campaign press secretary during the 2024 election—an intense period during which she was pregnant with Niko. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Leavitt returned to work just three days after giving birth, in the wake of the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, as reported by The Washington Post.
Leavitt’s announcement of her second pregnancy comes at a time when work-life balance in the highest echelons of government is under the microscope. She has repeatedly expressed gratitude to President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for “fostering a pro-family environment in the White House.” In her words, "Nearly all of my West Wing colleagues have babies and young children, so we all really support one another as we tackle raising our families while working for the greatest president ever." This sentiment, echoed across multiple interviews and social media posts, reflects her belief in the importance of family support within demanding professional settings.
The unique age gap between Leavitt and Riccio has not gone unnoticed by the public or the media. Social media buzzed with commentary after her pregnancy announcement, with one X user pointedly reminding followers, "Karoline Leavitt is only 28 years old and her husband is 60." For her part, Leavitt has handled such attention with candor and humor, consistently emphasizing the strength of their relationship over societal expectations. She told The Megyn Kelly Show that while their story is "atypical," Riccio’s unwavering support has been central to her success and happiness.
Riccio’s own career trajectory adds a layer of depth to the couple’s story. As Newsweek detailed, Riccio started out with little, working his way up through the real estate ranks to become a significant player in New Hampshire’s property market. His portfolio now includes properties from Boston to the White Mountains, and he continues to operate largely out of the public eye, even as his wife stands at the podium for daily White House briefings.
Leavitt’s gratitude extends beyond her immediate family. In her Instagram post, she thanked President Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, writing, "I am also extremely grateful to President Trump and our Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House. 2026 is going to be a great year and I am so excited to be a girl mom!" The pro-family culture she describes appears to be a point of pride within the current administration, with Leavitt noting that many of her West Wing colleagues are also raising young families.
As the first pregnant White House press secretary, Leavitt’s journey is being watched closely—not just as a personal milestone, but as a reflection of shifting norms in American political life. Her visible embrace of motherhood, alongside her demanding public role, challenges outdated assumptions about women in power and sets a precedent for future generations. In her own words, "My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth."
With a growing family, a supportive partner, and a historic role at the heart of American politics, Karoline Leavitt’s story continues to unfold—one that blends tradition and modernity, personal joy and professional achievement, in a way that few public figures have managed before.
