Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is buttoned up when she’s in the White House press room, but there was a time when she showed a lot more skin.
Before she became the spokesperson for the Donald Trump administration, the New Hampshire native had a closet of form-fitting attire, from the shortest of shorts and crop tops to a plethora of bikinis to choose from.
These days, the 28-year-old is hardly ever spotted in an outfit that does not fall at or just slightly above the knee. However, a resurfaced photo now serves as a reminder of Leavitt’s more youthful presenting days, in other words, “where it all started.”
On Instagram, Leavitt posted a carousel of images from that Fourth of July 2023 weekend, reflecting back on outings from the previous month. In one particular snapshot, she was dressed casually in light blue denim shorts a cream-colored top, a black Gucci belt, and black cowboy boots with white embellishments.
The Saint Anselm College alum was the focal point as she stood flanked by four other women, two to each side and dressed in similar outfits. The List sparked public interest in the blast from the past when they wrote about the drastic evolution of Leavitt’s style.
The outlet tweeted that she “seems to confuse professional attire with old-lady outfits, but she looked uncomfortable even when she was still dressing her age.” In the post’s comments, a different conversation developed.
“Hun you’re kind of … And yes I mean that in the good way,” said an admirer.
The compliment is in stark contrast to criticism accusing the press secretary of packing on pounds since Trump began his second term as president in January.
An unimpressed user focused on Leavitt’s feet when they wrote she is the “Secretary of Tacky Shoes.” Two more people slammed her for aligning herself with Trump. “You hitched your pony to a bad wagon… WHOAAA,” read the first reaction.
I had no idea that there was a 32-year age gap between Karoline Leavitt and her husband. He's old enough to be her father. Not judging. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mwebcTID91
— Lowkey Rey 2.0 (@AtlRey) April 15, 2025
The second remark mocked MAGA by stating, “Make America white again, make America stupid again, and make America greedy again.” At times, her fashion choices have been declared frumpy and er overall aesthetic compared to “Trump’s Ivana-wanna-be’s.”
Leavitt has chosen to limit her clap backs to official matters at the press room podium. But she has previously addressed the criticism about her marriage to 60-year-old investor Nicolas Riccio.
“He’s the best dad I could ever ask for,” she told Megyn Kelly in February about the father of her one-year-old son, Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio.
“I met my husband during my congressional campaign. A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns up in New Hampshire and invited my husband. We met. We were acquainted as friends, and then we fell in love.”
When Kelly specifically asked Leavitt if she had ever second-guessed dating a much older man, Leavitt replied, “Of course. It’s a very atypical love story, but he’s incredible. He is my greatest supporter. He’s my best friend. He’s my rock.”
