‘A Day With Grandpa’: Karoline Leavitt, 28, Accused of Manipulating Photo to Make Her 60-Year-Old Husband Look Younger

Washington D.C.– White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, a rising star in the Trump administration at just 28 years old, has candidly addressed the personal challenges of her marriage to Nicholas Riccio, a 60-year-old real estate developer who is 32 years her senior.

In a revealing appearance on the “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine” podcast Wednesday, Leavitt detailed the initial hurdles in gaining her parents’ approval and the couple’s resilience amid relentless public commentary.

Leavitt, whose poised and combative style has made her a fixture in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, shared that introducing Riccio to her parents, Bob and Erin, was far from seamless.

“It’s definitely a challenging conversation to have at first,” she admitted on the podcast. The age difference, she explained, prompted understandable reservations from her family.

However, time and familiarity bridged the gap. “Once they got to know him and saw who he is as a man and his character and how much he adores me, I think it became quite easy for them,” Leavitt said.

Today, the relationship is harmonious: “And now we’re all friends.” She highlighted Riccio’s deep respect for her upbringing, noting, “My husband has such respect for my parents and the way they raised me, and we have a lot of fun together when they come to visit.”

The couple’s bond extends to their 1-year-old son, Niko, whom they welcomed shortly after tying the knot. Leavitt and Riccio married in a private ceremony just days before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January, marking the beginning of a new chapter as Leavitt assumed one of the most high-profile roles in Washington.

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Facing Public Backlash

Like many high-profile couples with significant age disparities, Leavitt and Riccio have endured their share of scrutiny. The glare of the national spotlight intensified earlier when the family attended a White House Halloween party with Niko.

A photo shared on social media sparked accusations of photo manipulation, with critics zeroing in on Riccio’s appearance.

“That airbrushing of your hubs face to make him appear younger was the trick,” one Instagram user sniped. Another quipped, “Face tuning your senior citizen husband is wild lol.” “A day with grandpa,” another wrote.

Leavitt has addressed the criticism head-on in prior interviews. During a February appearance on Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM radio show, she embraced their unconventional romance, “We had a very atypical love story.” Far from defensive, she praised Riccio as “my greatest supporter,” adding, “He’s my best friend and he’s my rock.”

Leavitt painted a portrait of Riccio as a steadfast partner who complements her extroverted public persona. “He’s very introverted, unlike me,” she told Devine. “He’s not on social media. He’s very private, which I respect. He’s a self-made man.”

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Riccio, who built a successful career in real estate development in New Hampshire, has chosen to remain largely out of the limelight, allowing Leavitt to pursue her ambitions unencumbered.

This dynamic has proven especially valuable in her demanding role. “He’s built a very successful business himself, so now he’s fully supportive of me building my success in my career,” she said. As a father, Riccio is equally involved: Leavitt described him as a hands-on parent content to operate “behind the scenes,” providing stability amid the chaos of White House life.

Leavitt’s openness about her marriage comes at a time when she is solidifying her influence in Trump’s orbit. A former communications director for the House Republican Conference and a key surrogate during the 2024 campaign, she was appointed press secretary at 27—the youngest in modern history. Her tenure has been marked by sharp exchanges with the press corps.