Karoline Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, welcomed their first child in July 2024

Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news conference on May 19, 2025 in Washington, D.C. ; Karoline Leavitt with her son Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio in March 2025.Credit : Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty ; Karoline Leavitt/ Instagram

Karoline Leavitt is a mom to her son, Niko.

The White House press secretary and her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, welcomed their first child, Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio, in July 2024. Though the couple — who share a 32-year age gap — were engaged at the time of their son’s birth, they didn’t marry until January 2025.

Niko was born just days before President Donald Trump was shot on the campaign trail, and Leavitt went back to work sooner than expected. Since then, Leavitt has publicly shared her experience of balancing work and parenthood.

“I think every working mother understands the demands. And no matter where you are, what you’re doing, there is a sense of guilt,” Leavitt told The Christian Broadcasting Network in March 2025. “But I spend every second that I possibly can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.”

Here’s everything to know about Karoline Leavitt’s son Niko.

She welcomed Niko in July 2024

Karoline Leavitt with her son Niko.KAROLINE LEAVITT/Instagram

Leavitt and Riccio welcomed Niko on July 10, 2024.

After announcing her pregnancy with a beach photoshoot in April, Leavitt shared news of Niko’s birth on Instagram later that summer, alongside a slideshow of photos from the hospital, calling it the “best moment of my life.”

Following Niko’s arrival home, Leavitt watched Trump get injured live on TV. As the press secretary for Trump’s presidential campaign, she decided to return to the office sooner than planned.

“I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’ ” Leavitt told The Conservateur in October 2024.

She brings Niko to work at the White House

Karoline Leavitt with her son Niko.KAROLINE LEAVITT/Instagram

In the year since welcoming Niko, Leavitt has found ways to juggle work and motherhood.

Throughout Trump’s 2024 campaign, she set up a studio in her home to complete press hits and TV interviews while caring for Niko.

“I was able to easily go downstairs and do a quick TV hit and then, of course, attend to my child,” Leavitt told running influencer Kate Mackz on an episode of her podcast, Post Run High in April 2025.

She continued, “Then [I] went back to the office as soon as I could, and brought my baby to the office with me. He was always with me throughout the entire duration of the campaign and just made it work.”

Since going back to work in person, Leavitt has shared photos of Niko with her in the Oval Office, in the halls of the White House and even attending meetings.

They spend time together as a family

Karoline Leavitt with her husband Nicholas and their son Niko.KAROLINE LEAVITT/InstagramKAROLINE LEAVITT/Instagram

Leavitt, Niko and Riccio spend time together outside of the office, from family vacations to outings in Washington, D.C.

In April 2025, Leavitt posted photos on Instagram of her and Niko on a trip to the Smithsonian Zoo, looking at the elephant enclosure. Later that month, she also shared pictures featuring Niko and Riccio at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

In early May, the family took a trip to Palm Beach, Fla., and later Leavitt posted a photo in honor of Mother’s Day.

Leavitt has spoken about being a new mom

Karoline Leavitt with her son Niko.KAROLINE LEAVITT/Instagram

The White House press secretary has been open about the “challenge” of motherhood, especially while working.

“It’s an incredible challenge and it’s something I still face to this very day, having to deal with that balance of wanting to be the best you can in your job and being the best mother that you possibly can as well,” she said on the Post Run High podcast in April 2025.

Leavitt added that raising her son while working full-time “takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot of prioritization.” But “having a good support system is so incredibly important … [and] I’m not perfect at it.”