White House press secretary
Karoline Leitt, pictured in 2022, three years before she became White House press secretary.
Karoline Leitt
American press secretary
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External Websites Written by Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Amy Tikkanen Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they he extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 8, 2025 •History Top Questions Who is Karoline Leitt?Karoline Leitt is an American government official who serves as White House press secretary (2025– ) in Donald Trump’s second administration. She is the youngest person to hold the post. Leitt was an assistant press secretary (2019–21) during Trump’s first term.
Where did Karoline Leitt go to college?Karoline Leitt attended Saint Anselm College on a softball scholarship, and she graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in politics and communication.
Is Karoline Leitt married?In 2023 Karoline Leitt became engaged to real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, who is 32 years her senior. They married and in 2024 had a son, Nicholas (“Niko”) Robert Riccio.
News • Judge orders the release of an immigrant with ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leitt • Dec. 8, 2025, 9:42 PM ET (AP) Immigrant with family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leitt is detained by ICE • Nov. 26, 2025, 4:46 PM ET (AP)Karoline Leitt (born August 24, 1998) is an American government official who serves as White House press secretary (2025– ) in the Republican administration of Pres. Donald Trump; she is the youngest person to hold the post. Leitt was an assistant press secretary (2019–21) during Trump’s first term.
Education and early careerLeitt grew up in New Hampshire. Her family is Roman Catholic, and she has often spoke about the importance of faith in her life. Leitt attended Saint Anselm College on a softball scholarship. During the 2016 presidential election, while still a student, she became an intern at Fox News. That year she wrote an article in The Saint Anselm Crier that was critical of the “liberal media,” which she called “unjust, unfair, and sometimes just plain old false.” Leitt graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in politics and communication.
“Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator.”
—Donald Trump, 2024
Leitt subsequently began working in the first Trump White House, writing letters to constituents from the correspondence office. She later became assistant press secretary. After Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Leitt joined Trump in alleging widespread voter fraud despite a lack of evidence. After leing the White House in 2021, she became director of communications for Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York. Leitt stepped down in 2022 to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 1st congressional district in New Hampshire. Campaigning as “a Generation Z conservative,” she supported tax cuts and stronger border security. She won her party’s primary but lost to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas in the general election.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Leitt was press secretary for the Trump campaign. Shortly after winning the race, Trump announced that she would serve as White House press secretary, saying, “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator.”
White House press secretaryLeitt became White House press secretary in January 2025. Only 27 years old, she was the youngest person to hold the post. She quickly garnered a reputation for being unflappable and, at times, combative. At her first press briefing on January 28, 2025, she was critical of traditional media outlets and announced that podcasters, influencers, bloggers, and other members of the “new media landscape” would be invited to debriefings.
Quick Facts Born: August 24, 1998 (age 27) Title / Office: White House Press Secretary (2025-), United States See all related content Personal lifeIn 2023 Leitt became engaged to real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, who is 32 years her senior. They married and in 2024 had a son, Nicholas (“Niko”) Robert Riccio.
Amy Tikkanen