Additional Coverage:
- Karoline Leavitt gushes over ‘handsome’ husband after admitting 32-year age gap is ‘unusual’ (themirror.com)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Shares Glimpse into Her Thanksgiving Celebration
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a rare look into her personal life on Thursday, sharing a series of photos on social media that chronicled her 2025 Thanksgiving celebration. The posts, which included an image of her husband, Nicholas Riccio, carving the holiday turkey, provided a unique peek into the family’s festivities.
One Instagram story post featured Riccio, clad in a plaid shirt, expertly slicing a golden-brown Thanksgiving turkey nestled in a disposable roasting pan on a brown granite countertop. Leavitt playfully captioned the image, “My handsome hubs cuttin the !!!”
The social media updates brought focus to Leavitt’s 60-year-old husband, who typically maintains a low public profile. Other shared images showcased the couple’s festive dinner spread, complete with traditional Thanksgiving staples such as green beans, mashed potatoes, mini crescents, macaroni and cheese, and, of course, the star turkey.
Another slide captured Leavitt placing the bird in the oven, captioned with a warm “The bird is in the oven… Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!”
The dining table, elegantly set with Thanksgiving-themed placemats and plates under a chandelier, also made an appearance.
Leavitt, 28, has previously addressed the 32-year age difference between herself and Riccio, acknowledging its unusual nature but emphasizing its irrelevance to their strong relationship. “It is very unusual,” she stated during a recent appearance on “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine.”
She continued, “He is amazing. We were acquainted as friends for quite some time, but then, of course, we fell in love.
And here we are today, we’re married with a beautiful baby, and he is just an amazing guy.”
The couple’s story began in 2022 when Leavitt was campaigning for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. While she secured the Republican nomination, she ultimately lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Chris Pappas.
Leavitt and Riccio became engaged in 2023, and although a wedding date has not been publicly announced, Leavitt’s Instagram bio now includes “wife.” Their son, Nicholas, was welcomed in July.
When asked by Devine about her parents’ initial reaction to the relationship, Leavitt admitted it was a “challenging conversation.” However, she added, “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.”
Riccio, who owns the real estate firm Riccio Enterprises LLC, is described by Leavitt as “very introverted” and someone who “stays behind the scenes.” She lauded his support for her demanding career, stating, “He’s built his career, so he’s in a place where he can support me in mine.” Leavitt also shared that Riccio is her “number one fan,” closely following her professional endeavors, including “every interview, every press briefing.”
The dynamics of age-gap relationships are often subject to public scrutiny. Galena K.
Rhoades, a research professor in psychology at the University of Denver, commented to Newsweek on the matter, noting that “Age-gap relationships tend to attract scrutiny because observers often make assumptions about power, money, or control.” Rhoades emphasized, “But these assumptions overlook what we know from decades of relationship research: age difference by itself does not determine the health of a relationship.”