Now Reading: Karoline Leavitt exits White House; husband Riccio 32 years older
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Karoline Leavitt exits White House; husband Riccio 32 years older
Karoline Leavitt exits White House; husband Riccio 32 years older
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary, will step down at the end of August to spend more time with her family, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. The 28-year-old married…
The Story in Brief
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary, will step down at the end of August to spend more time with her family, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. The 28-year-old married New Hampshire real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, 60, in January 2025, days before Trump's second inauguration. The couple have two children: son Niko, born July 2024, and daughter Viviana, born May 2026.
Leavitt and Riccio met in 2022 when she was campaigning for Congress in New Hampshire. Their 32-year age gap drew attention; Leavitt has called the relationship an "atypical love story" and said her parents initially struggled with it. Riccio, who experienced homelessness as a young adult, built a portfolio of over a dozen properties in Hampton Beach. The Economic Times estimates his net worth at around $6 million, though no official figure exists.
The Indian Opinion
The focus on Leavitt's marriage, especially the 32-year age gap and Riccio's age relative to her mother, reflects an Indian tendency to treat personal details as public spectacle. Yet the more substantive fact is Leavitt's trajectory: from a 2022 congressional loss to the White House podium, then stepping away after two years. That rapid rise deserves scrutiny. The test will be whether she returns to politics or becomes a lifetime Trump adviser. Watch her post-exit role for the answer.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
