Karoline Leavitt attended the turkey pardon ceremony on November 25, 2025, accompanied by her son, Niko Riccio, rather than her husband, Nicholas Riccio. Leavitt’s husband chose to skip the event, even though he has participated in similar occasions in the past, such as the White House Easter Egg Roll in April 2025.
Leavitt’s comments about their 32-year age gap on social media drew criticism from Instagram users, which may have contributed to Riccio’s absence from the turkey pardon. Days before the event, Leavitt acknowledged that her husband’s age had presented challenges early in their relationship. Notably, her parents initially disapproved of the relationship, as her mother is five years younger than Riccio.
Chip Somodevilla/GettyIn an interview on “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine” on November 19, 2025, Leavitt described the initial difficulties of discussing their age difference. Over time, her parents accepted Riccio after witnessing his affection for Leavitt, leading to a more typical family dynamic. However, the scrutiny and negative comments online may have made the situation uncomfortable for the couple. Leavitt mentioned that Riccio is quite introverted, which could explain his choice to avoid the public spotlight during the Thanksgiving tradition.
Leavitt’s Initial Hesitations Regarding Her Husband’s Age
Before their romantic relationship, Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio were friends. When Leavitt began to develop feelings for Riccio, she hesitated to pursue a deeper connection. In a February 2025 appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Leavitt described their relationship as unconventional but praised Riccio’s qualities as a partner and father. “He’s the best dad I could ever ask for,” she stated.
Leavitt shared that Riccio was unaware of the challenges that would arise after they became a couple, humorously noting, “I walked into your life, and it’s been a circus ever since.” She credited Riccio’s accomplishments as a real estate developer for motivating her to strive for success as well. Despite her positive remarks about Riccio, the public continues to comment negatively on their age difference.
Each time Leavitt shares family photos online, comments mocking Riccio’s age frequently appear. One user questioned, “So when your child is 11, their dad is going to be in hospice?” while another remarked, “Get a lot of practice changing your baby’s diapers so you can do it for your husband one day.” Leavitt appears to be accustomed to this scrutiny.
