Karoline Claire Leavitt is not your typical Washington insider. Born on August 24, 1997, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, she rose from small-town roots to become the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history. Her swift ascent through the Republican ranks has been nothing short of remarkable, marking her as a prominent face in a new generation of GOP communicators. With a B.A. in politics and communication from Saint Anselm College—where she also played softball on scholarship—Leavitt entered politics with both ambition and polish.
Leavitt’s upbringing was steeped in traditional values. Raised in a Roman Catholic household, she spent her summers working the counter at her family’s ice cream stand. Those early experiences taught her discipline, drive, and a healthy skepticism of idle time. She carried that ethos into high school, where she earned honors as a two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star in softball at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
BruceSchaff, Karoline Leavitt addresses press outside Trump trial in New York 05-28-24, CC BY-SA 4.0
At Saint Anselm College, Leavitt wasn’t just an athlete; she was a campus firebrand. She founded the school’s broadcasting club and wrote opinion pieces in the student newspaper criticizing the “liberal media.” In one particularly sharp editorial, she described mainstream coverage as “unjust, unfair, and sometimes just plain old false.” Her perspective clearly aligned with the rhetoric of the Trump era—and soon, her résumé would too.
In 2018, she interned in the White House’s Office of Presidential Correspondence. By 2020, she had climbed to assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany, one of the most combative media figures of Trump’s first term. In that role, Leavitt sharpened her communications skills, drafting messaging and assisting with official briefings during a tumultuous re-election campaign and global pandemic.
After Trump’s presidency ended, Leavitt pivoted to Capitol Hill as communications director for Representative Elise Stefanik. Her tenure there cemented her reputation as a staunch defender of America First policies. In 2022, she launched her own campaign for Congress in New Hampshire, championing low taxes, border enforcement, and what she called “truth in media.” She won the Republican primary but ultimately lost the general election.
Unfazed, Leavitt joined Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., and later returned to the spotlight as national press secretary for his 2024 campaign. In this role, she became a key surrogate for Trump, especially during coverage of his criminal trial, offering emphatic, often fiery defenses to both legacy outlets and alternative media platforms.
In November 2024, Trump named her White House press secretary—a historic appointment. At 27, she broke the age record previously held by Richard Nixon’s Ron Ziegler. Her first briefing in January 2025 introduced the concept of a “new media seat,” a space for podcasters and digital influencers in the White House press corps. This bold move signaled a strategic pivot toward less traditional, younger audiences—underscoring her belief that “the American people don’t trust the mainstream media anymore.”
While she commands the press room with confidence, Leavitt’s personal life has also sparked conversation. She is married to Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer more than 30 years her senior, and the couple welcomed their first child, Niko, in July 2024. Just days after giving birth, she was spotted feeding her son behind the podium during a press conference—a viral moment that turned her into a “working mom” icon across conservative media.
Whether you view her as a trailblazer or a provocateur, one thing is clear: Karoline Leavitt represents a generational shift in American politics. With a combative edge, a mastery of modern media, and a commitment to conservative messaging, she’s redefining what it means to speak for the presidency in the 21st century.