Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has addressed criticism surrounding the significant age difference between herself and her husband, Nicholas Riccio.
Leavitt, 29, is married to the 61-year-old property developer, making him 32 years her senior.
The couple's relationship has attracted considerable attention, particularly since Leavitt became a prominent figure in Donald Trump's administration.
However, the former press secretary has consistently spoken positively about her marriage, and her latest comments suggest she has little interest in allowing outside opinions to influence her relationship.
During an Instagram question-and-answer session on Wednesday, October 14, Leavitt was asked to share advice for women who are also in relationships with a substantial age difference.
Her response included a photograph of herself with Riccio and a personal message about their marriage.
What did Karoline Leavitt say about her 32-year age gap?
Karoline Leavitt defended her marriage to Nicholas Riccio, telling women in age-gap relationships to ignore criticism and make their own decisions about love.
Responding to a follower who asked for relationship advice, Leavitt wrote on Instagram:
"Forget the haters and follow your heart!"
She went on to describe marrying Riccio as the best decision she had ever made.
The former press secretary also praised her husband's role within their family, describing him as an exceptional partner and father.
Leavitt suggested that people who meet Riccio and spend time around the couple generally understand why they are together.
Her comments were shared alongside a photograph of the pair in an Instagram Story that has since expired.
The message offered a direct response to the attention their age difference has received.
How old are Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio?
Karoline Leavitt is 29 years old, while her husband Nicholas Riccio is 61.
That means the couple have an age difference of approximately 32 years.
Leavitt was born on August 24, 1997, while Riccio was born in 1965.
Their relationship has occasionally prompted online discussion because of the substantial gap between their ages.
However, both are adults who entered their relationship by choice, and Leavitt has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with their marriage.
Her latest comments make clear that she considers the quality of their relationship more important than the number of years separating them.
How did Karoline Leavitt meet her husband?
Leavitt and Riccio first met in 2022 while she was campaigning for a seat in the US House of Representatives.
At the time, Leavitt was running as a Republican candidate in New Hampshire.
According to reporting by HuffPost, the pair were introduced by a mutual friend during her congressional campaign.
Riccio, a property developer and businessman, was already established in the real estate industry.
The introduction eventually developed into a romantic relationship.
Although Leavitt did not win the 2022 congressional election, her political career continued to progress.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Riccio became increasingly serious.
When did Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio get married?
The couple became engaged in 2023, approximately a year after they first met.
They subsequently married in 2025.
By that point, Leavitt had become a significant figure in Trump's political operation, having served as national press secretary during his 2024 presidential campaign.
She was later appointed White House press secretary following Trump's return to office in January 2025.
Her increasingly public career brought additional attention to her family life and marriage.
Despite that scrutiny, Leavitt has continued to share positive comments about Riccio.
Who is Nicholas Riccio?
Nicholas Riccio is an American businessman and real estate developer.
He has built his career in property investment and development, particularly in New Hampshire.
Unlike his wife, Riccio is not primarily known for a career in politics.
He has generally maintained a lower public profile, although he has accompanied Leavitt to political events and other public appearances.
His marriage to the former White House press secretary has attracted increasing media attention since she joined Trump's administration.
Riccio is also the father of the couple's two children.
How many children do Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio have?
Leavitt and Riccio share two children.
The couple welcomed their son, Niko, in July 2024.
Their daughter, Viviana, was born in May 2026.
Leavitt has spoken publicly about the importance of family life and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding political career.
Following the birth of her daughter, she took maternity leave from her position at the White House.
She later returned to work before announcing her resignation in August 2026.
Her decision to step down was closely connected to her desire to spend more time with her young children.
Why did Karoline Leavitt leave the White House?
Leavitt resigned as White House press secretary in August 2026 after approximately 19 months in the role.
She explained that the demands of the position had become difficult to balance with her responsibilities as a mother.
In a public statement, she reflected positively on her time serving the administration but said she wanted to prioritise her children.
The decision came just months after the birth of her second child.
Leavitt had become the youngest White House press secretary in American history when she took office at the age of 27.
Her departure attracted considerable attention because she had been one of the administration's most visible public representatives.
What is Karoline Leavitt doing now?
Following her departure from the White House, Leavitt announced that she would be joining Fox News as an on-air contributor.
Her new position is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
The network confirmed that she will provide political commentary across its news and opinion programmes.
Leavitt has also indicated that she intends to remain involved in Republican politics and continue supporting Trump.
Her move into television represents a different professional arrangement from her former White House position.
It will allow her to remain involved in political discussions without the same daily responsibilities associated with representing the administration.
Has Karoline Leavitt spoken about her age-gap marriage before?
Leavitt has previously discussed her relationship with Riccio and the public attention surrounding their age difference.
In earlier interviews, she acknowledged that their relationship might appear unconventional to some people.
However, she has consistently emphasised the qualities she values in her husband and the support he provides.
Her latest Instagram comments reflect that same position.
Rather than focusing on the age difference itself, Leavitt chose to highlight their family life and the strength of their relationship.
She also suggested that outside criticism does not reflect the experiences of people who know the couple personally.
Why do age-gap relationships attract attention?
Relationships involving substantial age differences frequently attract public discussion, particularly when one or both partners are well-known figures.
People may question whether differences in age, life experience or financial circumstances could affect the balance within a relationship.
Others argue that age alone does not determine whether two adults are compatible.
Relationship experts generally emphasise factors such as mutual respect, communication, shared expectations and the ability to make decisions freely.
Those considerations can be important in relationships regardless of the partners' ages.
For Leavitt, the public discussion has become a recurring aspect of her life in the spotlight.
However, her latest response indicates that she remains confident in her decision to marry Riccio.
What advice did Karoline Leavitt give to other women?
Leavitt's message was directed at women who are experiencing criticism because of an age difference in their own relationships.
She encouraged them to prioritise their personal feelings rather than allowing negative outside opinions to determine their choices.
She used her marriage as an example of a relationship that she believes works well despite public scrutiny.
However, her comments reflected her own experience rather than a universal recommendation about age-gap relationships.
Individual circumstances, compatibility and mutual respect remain important considerations for any couple.
What happens next for Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio?
Leavitt is preparing to begin her new career at Fox News in November while continuing to raise her two children with Riccio.
Her departure from the White House marked a significant change in her professional life, but she has indicated that she intends to remain involved in American political discussions.
Meanwhile, her latest comments suggest that she is comfortable addressing public questions about her marriage.
Despite the 32-year age difference, Leavitt has made clear that she considers her relationship with Riccio one of the most positive decisions of her life.
Her message to critics was ultimately that the couple's relationship should be judged by their own experiences rather than by the number of years between them.
Source: HuffPost, October 16, 2026, reporting on Karoline Leavitt's Instagram Q&A.
