Karoline Leavitt's age gap with husband leaves people shocked as they only just realise how old she is
They married in January of this year
Following the news that she is expecting her second child, followers of Karoline Leavitt has been doing a deep-dive into the controversial White House press secretary's personal life.
And by the sounds of some responses, many have been blindsided by the revelation that she and her husband, businessman Nicholas Riccio, share a pretty almighty age gap.
For those who missed it, 28-year-old Leavitt - right-wing leader Donald Trump's official media representative - took to Instagram on Boxing Day (26 Dec), to reveal that she is pregnant for the second time.
Sharing a photo, she gushed: "The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for - a baby girl coming in May 2026.
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"My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth."
The political advisor added: "I am also extremely grateful to President Trump and our Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House. 2026 is going to be a great year and I am so excited to be a girl mom!"
Leavitt and real estate developer Riccio are already parents to a 17-month-old son, Nicholas 'Niko', named after his father.
The couple tied the knot in January 2025 - days ahead of Republican frontman Trump's second inauguration - after announcing their engagement over a year prior, in December 2023.
As we say, however, news of their family's incoming addition has set tongues wagging for a number of reasons, with some social media users only just discovering that Leavitt and Riccio were born 32 years apart.
"I recently discovered [that Karoline Leavitt] is only 28 and, my gosh, she looks older than myself and my wife in our 40s," one X (formerly Twitter) user penned this week. "I was shocked she is in her 20s."
Another user added: "I didn’t know that 27 year old Karoline Leavitt’s husband is 62 years old. That would be like me being with a 90 year old."
With a vomit emoji, a third hit out: "How did I not know that Karoline Leavitt's husband is more than TWICE her age."
Using the same emoji, a fourth continued: "I was today years old when i found out that the year karoline leavitt started kindergarten as a tiny little girl her future husband was 37 years old."
Another went on to confess: "I still can't get over Karoline Leavitt, the WH press secretary, marrying a dude in a shotgun wedding who was 50 when she graduated high school and will be 77 when their son graduates from high school."
Her cross-generational marriage isn't something that the political spokesperson has ever shied away from, however.
Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, Leavitt revealed she'd met her husband during her congressional campaign.
"A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns up in New Hampshire, and invited my husband," Trump's right-hand woman recalled.
"I was speaking, and we met and we were acquainted as friends, and then we fell in love."
Admitting she did harbour some initial reservations, Leavitt continued. "It's a very atypical love story, but he's incredible. He's my greatest supporter, he's my best friend. He's my rock."
She issued a similar sentiment when catching up with Pod Force One podcast host Miranda Devine last year, when she was questioned over their 'unusual' 32 year age gap.
After Devine asked her, 'Could you not find boys your own age?', Leavitt candidly confessed: "Honestly no, if you want to know the truth. But he's amazing. We fell in love, and here we are today.
"We're married with a beautiful baby. He's just an amazing guy."
Of Riccio, she added: "He's introverted, unlike me. He stays behind the scenes, he's very private, which I respect. He's a self-made man, with a successful real estate business back home.
"He's build his career, and so, he's in a place where he can support me in mine."
Leavitt continued to gush: "So, he's an incredibly hands-on father. He and my son are the best of friends."
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Sex and Relationships, US News, Instagram, Pregnancy, Twitter
Rhianna Benson