White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt may spend her weekdays in one of the most powerful jobs in Washington, but for her 28th birthday, she kept things simple, sun-soaked, and deeply personal.
The rising GOP star gave her followers a rare peek into her off-duty life on Sunday, heading home to New Hampshire to ring in the milestone surrounded by close friends, pink flowers, and the two men who matter most: her husband Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their one-year-old son, Nicholas “Niko” Robert.
Matching moments, beachside bliss
Leavitt kicked off her birthday with a carousel of photos on Instagram, showing off a calm, joyful day far from the political spotlight. In one sweet snap, she cradled baby Niko at the beach, the toddler stealing hearts in a crab-print bathing suit while mom glowed in a white crochet cover-up.
Another photo had fans doing a double-take, as Leavitt and Riccio matched in blue activewear and black sunglasses. The couple, who have a 32-year age gap, looked relaxed and close, with Karoline holding their son for a breezy family photo by the water.
She shared the photos without a lengthy caption, letting the images tell the story.
Birthday cards, scooters, and Italian dinners
But it wasn’t just the beach that made her birthday feel special. Leavitt also gave fans a look inside her gift bag, sharing adorable cards from both her husband and baby son.
One card, clearly from little Niko, featured smiling ice cream cones and the words “Mom, you’re the coolest.” The other, from Riccio, showed two cuddly sloths on a log, with the caption: “Happy birthday to my wife… my other half.”
On her Instagram Stories, the political aide shared even more behind-the-scenes fun, including a bouquet of pink flowers, a clip of her riding on a motorized scooter along the beach, and a family dinner in Boston’s North End, where Niko looked out the window at a firetruck passing on the street.
She ended the night with one final snap: the inside of Niko’s card, where a scribbled “I love you!” added the perfect, unfiltered touch.
A quiet life, a bold love
Leavitt’s lowkey celebration arrives just months after she addressed public curiosity about her relationship with Riccio, who she married last year after getting engaged on Christmas Day 2023. They first met during her Congressional campaign in 2022.
In a rare interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, Leavitt opened up about their first encounter, a campaign event at a restaurant Riccio owns, and how friendship eventually blossomed into love.
“It’s a very atypical love story,” she admitted. “But he’s incredible. He’s my rock, my best friend, and the biggest supporter of my career.”
Now a mom, a wife, and the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, Leavitt continues to juggle one of the country’s most demanding jobs while staying grounded in family. She’s been open about the emotional toll of motherhood and long hours, sharing in an October 2024 interview that leaving her son each morning “breaks her heart.”
But this weekend? It was all about joy, gratitude, and quiet love. No politics, no podium, just a birthday by the sea.
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