Fox News star Dana Perino and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared laughs, life lessons, and touching details about their marriages during a candid live chat in Washington, D.C.
It was a night full of laughter, heartwarming stories, and powerful advice as Dana Perino welcomed Karoline Leavitt for a special Fox Nation event — and the two powerhouse women had plenty to say about life, love, and pressure in the public eye.
The event, held April 30 to celebrate Perino’s new book I Wish Someone Had Told Me, brought together the first and youngest Republican women to ever serve as White House Press Secretary. Perino introduced Leavitt by saying, “She’s a real pistol. She’s taken the country by storm.”
At just 27 years old, Leavitt has already carved out a bold path in Washington — from her early days as assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany, to winning the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Congress in New Hampshire, to her current high-profile role in Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. She even returned to work just days after giving birth to her first son in July 2024.
“You’ve been such an amazing mentor to me and so many other young women,” Leavitt gushed to Perino. “I’m excited I get to ask you questions tonight.”
‘Love at First Flight’ and ‘My Rock’
But beyond politics, the women found a powerful bond over something more personal: love and relationships that defy the norm.
Perino, 52, told the story of meeting her husband Peter McMahon, who is 18 years her senior, on a flight over two decades ago.
“We talked the entire time,” she said. “We call it ‘love at first flight.’”
Leavitt could relate. The press secretary recently married 60-year-old real estate entrepreneur Nicholas Riccio, and the couple welcomed baby Niko last summer.
“He’s my rock,” Leavitt said with a smile. “He’s probably embarrassed I just called him out, but he’s amazing.” “He’s built a very successful business himself, so now he’s fully supportive of me building my success in my career,” she said.
“He’s the father of my child, and he’s the best dad I could ever ask for. And he is so supportive, especially during a very chaotic period of life… I say, ‘I walked into your life and it’s been a circus ever since,’ but God bless him because he’s fully on board.”
Quarter-Life Crisis and Career Comebacks
Perino also opened up about the challenges of balancing ambition with uncertainty. She recalled suffering a “quarter-life crisis” at 25 — something Leavitt nodded at with knowing empathy.
After working in Fox News as a college intern and later launching her school’s first broadcasting club, Leavitt knew the pressure of high expectations.
Perino, who once doubted her dreams of working in TV, is now one of the most recognizable faces on Fox News. Leavitt, too, has weathered the national spotlight — including a viral CNN moment in 2024 when her mic was abruptly cut off after she challenged moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.
Advice That Sticks
Perino ended the evening by sharing advice that’s guided her post-White House life:
“Ask yourself: Do I get paid? Does it help a cause I care about? And do I want to do it?” she said. “If it’s not two out of three, say no.”
It’s clear that both women — despite age, era, or career path — share a commitment to values, discipline, and authenticity.
