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Karoline Leavitt defends three-decade age gap with husband and sends message to 'haters'
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has hit back at social media commenters who target her large age-gap marriage.
Leavitt, who is 29, is not allowing people to come after her relationship with her real estate developer husband Nicholas Riccio, 61, in a Q and A session.
Having allowed her followers on Instagram free rein to ask what they want to know when she was in for a full day of travel, the former White House employee decided to reveal her thoughts on people who bash age gaps.
The couple met in 2022 when Leavitt was just 25 and running for Congress in New Hampshire.
The pair went on to wed in January 2025, just before she took over as press secretary for Trump, and share two children: Niko, two, and Viviana, who was born in May.
During her rare Q and A on her social media, she was asked about what life was like with a much-older hubby.
"What advice would you give for girls in age-gap relationships? My husband is 15 years older," one question asked her.
"Forget the haters and follow your heart!," she responded, adding of Riccio: "Marrying this man was the best decision I ever made. He's the absolute best husband and dad in the world. Everyone gets why we are together when they actually meet him and see us together."
Previously, she revealed her husband’s sacrifice for their growing family on the last day of her role as press secretary before handing over the job to Katie Zacharia.
"He has been just an angel and a blessing to me and my kids, really has given up a lot to move to D.C., a town he's unfamiliar with, took a step back from his own career to be here for me and support me," she said at the time.
Now, the couple are about to navigate a different dynamic at home and at work as Leavitt is set to join Fox News as an on-air contributor in November, but is currently enjoying time as a mom until she starts.
The mom-of-two explained her life right now when a follower asked her: "What do you do in your free time?"
"Ha ha," Leavitt said to the user. "I don't have free time. As a mom of two littles, I'm lucky if I can take a shower in peace. But it's the season of life I'm in and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!"
She also went on to share career advice after she was asked about how to get into politics.
"My advice to people who want to get into politics or comms is to get real world experience when you're in college," she said. "You'll be taught a lot of things in the classroom, but work experience is where you're really going to learn the game."
Leavitt revealed she interned at NBC Sports Boston because she initially wanted to become a sideline sports reporter.
"Just try to apply for internships, say yes to every opportunity that you can and don't spend your summers hanging out, spend your summers working and gaining that real world experience, which will help you later in your career,” she added.
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