The real estate developer shared his plans to own a sports team

DONALD Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt has a shocking connection to a former president through her husband, Nicholas Riccio.

Riccio’s connection to former President George W. Bush has come to light as Leavitt draws national attention for her role as the youngest-ever White House press secretary.

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Real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and their son NikoCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt

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Leavitt walks to the West Wing after her press conference at the White House on MondayCredit: AP

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Leavitt and Riccio, who got engaged in December 2023Credit: Instagram/karolineleavitt
Leavitt, 27, and Riccio, 59, got engaged in December 2023 and tied the knot before their son, Niko, was born in July 2024.

Years before the Fox News alum and real estate developer started their family, Riccio crossed paths with the 43rd president of the United States.

In 2005, Riccio spoke about his plans to own a sports team to the Portsmouth Herald, a daily newspaper affiliated with USA Today that serves areas of New Hampshire.

Riccio told the outlet he spoke to Bush at Pease International Tradeport, an airport and industrial park in Portsmouth, in February 2005.

At the time, Bush led a discussion about Social Security at the airport in a town hall-style meeting – and Riccio was in the front row.

Riccio sat near Senators John Sununu and Judd Gregg, according to the Herald.

The entrepreneur said he spoke about baseball ownership with Bush, who formerly owned the Texas Rangers, for three to four minutes.

Riccio told the outlet he was profoundly affected by the conversation and that he planned to speak to Bush again once his presidency was over.

He added that he would own a sports team by the next time he sat down to talk with Bush.

Bush served as president from 2001 to 2009.

Riccio has never owned any sports team, according to a search by The U.S. Sun.

Bush’s team hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

While Riccio hasn’t bought any sports team, he’s been busy managing his multimillion-dollar real estate business, Riccio Enterprises, LLC.

His company, which focuses on renovating properties, stretches across New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

He’s been so successful with his business that he even joined Leavitt’s campaign’s finance committee when she ran for an open New Hampshire congressional seat in 2022, according to NOTUS.

Riccio and Leavitt met through a mutual friend at a political function, the press secretary previously revealed on Instagram in a since-deleted comment.

While Leavitt has garnered attention through fiery White House press briefings and social media posts to her 537,000 Instagram followers, Riccio prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

“He doesn’t have social media and he’s an introvert (complete opposite of me),” Leavitt previously wrote on Instagram.

“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.”

As Riccio and Leavitt are tasked with being new parents, Leavitt has also stayed busy as Trump’s press secretary.

The young media star gave a last-minute press conference on Monday where she ripped the US Agency for International Development and accused them of wasting taxpayer dollars.

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Riccio, who spoke with former President George Bush about baseball ownership, and LeavittCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt

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Riccio and Leavitt, who have a 32 year age gapCredit: Instagram/karolineleavitt

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Leavitt at a White House press briefing on January 31, 2025 in Washington DCCredit: Getty