What We Know About Karoline Leavitt and Her Husband, Nicholas Riccio

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held the first press conference of President Donald Trump’s new administration on Tuesday.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.

Why It Matters

While it’s unclear how frequently Leavitt will hold briefings, her role comes amid a history of sporadic press interactions under the Trump administration. Previous Trump press secretaries included Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany, with Grisham notably avoiding regular briefings.

Leavitt’s appointment makes her the youngest to hold the position, surpassing Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he served under President Richard Nixon. The role of press secretary has traditionally included daily briefings, though Trump’s first term saw him engaging directly with the public through rallies and social media, often bypassing traditional press interactions.

What To Know

Leavitt, who previously worked as a spokesperson for Donald Trump’s campaign and transition, was praised by the former president when he announced her as his press secretary following his November 2024 election win.

Trump described her as “smart, tough, and a highly effective communicator,” expressing confidence in her ability to deliver the administration’s message to the public.

Tuesday offered a first glimpse of Leavitt’s role as she spent about 47 minutes answering questions from the White House press corps on the impact of a freeze on federal grants and loans and the early days of the administration’s efforts into mass deportations.

Who Is Karoline Leavitt?

Leavitt previously served as Trump’s national press secretary during his 2024 presidential campaign. She was also a spokesperson for his transition team.

During Trump’s first administration, Leavitt was an assistant press secretary and presidential writer.

After Trump lost reelection in 2020, Leavitt became communications director for Republican Representative Elise Stefanik of New York in 2021. Trump nominated Stefanik in November to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. She won the Republican nomination but lost the general election to Democrat Chris Pappas.

Karoline Leavitt Education

Before joining Trump at the White House, Leavitt attended Saint Anselm College, a liberal arts school in Manchester, New Hampshire, on an athletic scholarship for softball. She graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in politics and communication.

While earning her undergraduate degree, Leavitt volunteered at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. In addition, as a student during the 2016 election, she began working for Fox News, according to Politico.

White House Press Secretary Salary

It is unclear what Leavitt’s specific salary is. Previous Trump press secretaries Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders made $179,700 and $165,000, respectively, according to the White House.

Husband Nicholas Riccio: What We Know

Aside from her political career, Leavitt married Nicholas Riccio after getting engaged on Christmas Day in 2023. While it’s unclear when they officially got married as they kept it private, Leavitt has “wife” in her Instagram bio.

Riccio manages his own multimillion-dollar real estate business, Riccio Enterprises LLC.

According to Seacoastline.com, Riccio’s career started when he drove through a neighborhood in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, in the early 2000s, when he noticed the buildings were run down and needed renovation.

By 2005, Riccio had bought 15 buildings on M Street, including 70 living units. He now owns properties spanning from Boston to the White Mountains.

Leavitt later gave birth to her first child, a boy named Nicholas, three days before Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last July.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, in a statement to Newsweek in November 2024: “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary.”

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said of Leavitt earlier this month during her last briefing: “I wish her the best of luck. This is a great job, an amazing opportunity to be standing at this podium, behind this lectern, to go back and forth with all of you and, and speak on behalf of this president, the president of the United States. There’s nothing like it. And I hope she enjoys the job.”

What Happens Next

While it is unclear when the next White House briefing is as Leavitt has not committed to daily briefings, Leavitt said, per the Associated Press, “I can assure you that you’ll be hearing from both him and me as much as possible.”