Karoline Leavitt stirred controversy this week after branding herself “New Hampshire’s finest” while sharing glamorous photos from a White House event alongside her much older husband.
The 28-year-old White House press secretary posted a series of Instagram Story snaps on Thursday night, giving her 2.6 million followers a behind-the-scenes look at the Congressional Ball.
Held at the White House, the high-profile event was attended by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and several senior members of the administration. Leavitt arrived with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, who is 32 years her senior, and posed confidently for photos throughout the evening.
Almost immediately, attention shifted from the event itself to Leavitt’s presentation. Critics questioned whether the bold caption fit the role of a press secretary — a job typically associated with discipline and restraint rather than personal branding.
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Leavitt has built a massive online following, and she frequently uses social media to shape her public image. Her posts often blur the line between political messaging and lifestyle content, a strategy that plays well with supporters but continues to frustrate critics who expect a more reserved tone from someone speaking for the White House.
In one image, Leavitt stood smiling beside Meghan Bauer, with their husbands joining them in a White House hallway. Tucked into the corner of the photo were the words “New Hampshire’s finest,” a nod to Leavitt and Riccio’s shared roots in the Granite State.
While the group appeared relaxed and cheerful under the bright hallway lights, the caption stood out. To some, it read as playful pride. To others, it felt like unnecessary self-promotion — especially given the seriousness of her role in a highly polarizing administration.
Riccio, a businessman who keeps a relatively low public profile, has drawn attention largely because of the age gap between him and Leavitt. Though the couple rarely addresses it publicly, their appearances together often spark commentary online, particularly when paired with Leavitt’s rapid rise in conservative political circles.
Leavitt also shared another group photo featuring Jeanette D. Rubio, the wife of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Rachel Campos-Duffy, the wife of Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The image placed her firmly among the inner circle of influential political spouses
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
