White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has opened up about her family life and how she feels guilty leaving her baby son to focus on her fast-paced career in politics

Karoline Leavitt shared an array of unseen photos as she opened up about her family life in a new interview.

The White House Press Secretary has admitted that she feels “guilty” when she is away from her son due to her demanding role as the youngest press secretary in history. Karoline, 27, has found fame after she was seen giving fiery responses to reporters following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

But she has admitted that when she exits her job at the end of the day and goes home, she just becomes a regular mom. She admitted: “I spend every second that I possibly can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.”

Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network in a recent interview Karoline gave further details of her home life when she switches off from work. She said: “I try to make it home for bedtime as much as I can throughout the week.”

Karoline welcomed her first child, baby son Niko in July 2024, who she shares with husband and real estate mogul Nicolas Riccio, 60. The couple – who got married in January this year – have been the subject of many a headline after facing public scrutiny for their 32-year age gap.

Karoline admitted finding being a new mom “challenging” as she opened up about the guilt she feels. She said: “I think every working mother understands the demands. No matter where you are, what you’re doing, there is a sense of guilt.”

The press secretary then shared a series of photos from her childhood as she discussed the big influence her parents had on her. She said: “I think that value of hard work and determination and drive was instilled in me in a very young age, just by watching my parents work so hard to earn a living.”

In one picture, a tiny Karoline is seen baking cookies and grinning as she holds up a Pillsbury Doughboy oven mitt. Karoline gave some insight into her relationship with her parents growing up in New Hampshire. She attended Saint Anselm College – a Catholic liberal arts college in Manchester, New Hampshire – on a softball scholarship.

She said: “The game of softball in sports prepared me for the game of politics, no doubt about it. Discipline, hard work, teamwork and also competing against yourself to be the best that you can in athletics, I think, has prepared me especially for this job now.”