Karoline Leavitt is making it clear that criticism of her marriage will not change how she feels about her husband, Nicholas Riccio. The 29-year-old former White House press secretary recently answered questions from followers during an Instagram Q&A, addressing the attention surrounding her relationship with the 61-year-old real estate developer. The couple first met in 2022, when Leavitt was 25 and campaigning for Congress in New Hampshire. They married in January 2025 and now share two children, son Niko and daughter Viviana, who was born in May. When one follower asked what advice she would give women in relationships with older partners, Leavitt offered a direct response: “Forget the haters and follow your heart!” She then praised Riccio, calling him the best husband and father in the world and explaining that people understand their relationship better when they meet them in person.
Leavitt has also spoken warmly about the sacrifices Riccio has made for their family. Before leaving her demanding position in August 2026, she described how he moved to Washington, D.C., despite being unfamiliar with the city, and stepped back from his own career to support her and their children. Her departure followed a period of working more than 60 hours a week, traveling internationally, and remaining available around the clock. During another question-and-answer session, Leavitt rejected online speculation that she had quit after an alleged security threat involving Air Force One, saying she had not been on the aircraft or even on the trip in question. She urged followers to check reliable reporting instead of accepting social media rumors as fact. Now preparing to join Fox News as a contributor on November 1, Leavitt says she intends to spend more time at home with her children while continuing her media career. Asked how she spends her free time, she joked that, as a mother of two young children, she is lucky to take a shower in peace. Despite the public scrutiny surrounding her marriage and career, her message remains consistent: she is happy with her family and comfortable with the choices she has made.
