Karoline Leavitt baby shower photos go viral as social media questions husband's absence

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, marked her pregnancy with a baby shower attended by senior administration figures including political advisor Katie Miller and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Miller shared images from the event on X on March 23, 2026, with the caption "Celebrating the great @karolineleavitt and her baby girl."

Credit: Katie Miller / X

The photos show Leavitt, visibly pregnant, posing with the group of women against a pink backdrop. Her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, does not appear in any of the shared images.

The posts quickly drew attention online, with some users focusing on Riccio's absence and the couple's 32-year age difference.

Comments on the X post included questions such as Charles Darwin asking "Where’s Grandpa? I mean her husband" and observations about the implications of the age gap for a happy family life.

Similar scrutiny surfaced in 2024 when Leavitt announced her first pregnancy.

Karoline Leavitt has addressed such questions before.

In response to earlier online commentary about her husband's low public profile, she stated:

"He doesn't have social media and he's an introvert (complete opposite of me). I respect his privacy on here - but he's my number one fan, the best dad, and just the best man I've ever met."

The couple, who met in 2022 during Leavitt's congressional campaign in New Hampshire, married in January 2025.

They welcomed their son, Nicholas "Niko" Robert Riccio, in July 2024.

On December 26, 2025, Leavitt announced her second pregnancy via Instagram:

"The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for - a baby girl coming in May 2026," she wrote. "My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother."

Leavitt has described Riccio, a real estate developer, as her "greatest supporter" and "rock" in past interviews. The couple has not issued any statements suggesting marital issues, and no credible reports indicate separation or divorce.

The baby shower, which Leavitt has said was organized by her mother and focused on female friends and colleagues, aligns with the private nature Riccio has maintained throughout their relationship.

Karoline Leavitt previously noted he prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

This is the latest in a series of family announcements from the Trump administration. Leavitt has indicated she will continue serving as press secretary after the birth.

The couple's second child is due in May 2026.