A popular political pundit has become the talk of D.C.’s social scene after splitting with his wife of almost ten years to get engaged to his younger gay lover.

Robby Soave, who turns 37 next month, is best known as the co-host of The Hill’s morning show Rising, as well as for his regular appearances on Fox News and his role as a senior editor at the libertarian magazine Reason.

Earlier this week, Soave shocked his followers when he abruptly announced his engagement to male med student Jie Jung Shih.

Soave popped the question with a Tiffany and Co. ring over candles and champagne in Taormina, Sicily, while the pair were on a romantic getaway together.

Announcing the news on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote, ‘Some personal news from my Sicily trip earlier this month, in case anyone missed it: I got engaged!’

There was no mention of Soave’s longtime wife Caroline ‘Carrie’ Soave, who he celebrated his ninth anniversary with in Positano, Italy, back in October, 2023.

Robby and Carrie were high school sweethearts who went on their first date back in 2004.

The Rising host often posted photos with Carrie on Instagram, and was never shy when it came to gushing about their marriage.

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Political pundit Robby Soave has split from his longtime wife and high school sweetheart Carrie (pictured together) to get engaged to his gay lover

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Soave shocked his followers when he abruptly announced his engagement to male med student Jie Jung Shih earlier this week

In a 2019 post, he wrote, ‘Today, five years ago, @carriesoave and I got married, following just over 10 years of dating that began when we were in high school and continued through college and after.

‘Despite having to spend years and years and years apart from each other, we always knew where we wanted to end up: Together. I love you so much babe!’

While celebrating their wedding anniversary in 2023, Soave gushed, ‘Could not be more overjoyed to celebrate nine years married to @carriesoave!

‘The most wonderful woman on earth, and the love of my life. Of course it’s actually been a lot longer… we fell in love as high schoolers in the early 00s. There’s no one else I’d rather travel the world with. Italy is almost as beautiful as you!’

The former couple were often seen out at events in Washington, D.C., and would dress up together on Halloween.

It’s unclear when exactly they split, but Robby hasn’t posted anything with Carrie since their ninth wedding anniversary in late 2023.

Last fall, Carrie officially left D.C. to return home to Michigan to be with her family and to open a consulting business.

Discussing her move with the Grosse Pointe News in March, Carrie said, ‘My family is here and I’d been wanting to come back.’

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Soave popped the question with a Tiffany and Co. ring over candles and champagne in Taormina, Sicily while the pair were on a romantic getaway together

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Soave told Politico that he and Shih met at a bar on U Street in D.C. and that it was ‘love at first sight’

DailyMail.com hears that the Soaves’ split has been the talk of the town in D.C.’s social circles all week.

While some are happy to see Robby out of the closet, the overwhelming sympathy is with Carrie, who was with Robby for 17 years before fleeing D.C. for a ‘fresh start’ in Michigan after their divorce was finalized last year.

Other have said that Robby’s sexuality has been part of the D.C. gossip mill for years, so few people were surprised to see him end up with a man.

As for Carrie, she hasn’t publicly offered any details about her personal life and appears to be going to great lengths to fly under the radar and move on from her failed marriage.

Soave hasn’t shared much about his relationship to fiance Shih either, but he did tell Politico that they met at a bar on U Street in D.C. and that it was ‘love at first sight.’

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Robby and Carrie haven’t posted together since their ninth wedding anniversary in October, 2023

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Since publicly sharing his engagement, Soave has been inundated with cruel and often homophobic comments from his followers as well as prominent right wing figures

DailyMail.com has contacted Robby and Carrie for comment.

Since publicly sharing his engagement, Soave has been inundated with cruel and often homophobic comments from his followers as well as countless right wing figures.

‘The amount of extremely homophobic comments this is getting is truly astounding and disgusting,’ wrote one follower.

‘Why can’t people just be happy for other people’s happiness? The haters had no call to spew their irrational hatred like that. Very disappointed. Idiots never stop to amaze.’

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The libertarian star has been showing off a buff new look since splitting with wife Carrie

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Carrie has since left D.C. to return to Michigan to be with her family and to open her own consulting business

Despite the backlash, Soave has received support from a number of other prominent political pundits, including former Rising co-hosts Kim Iversen and Ryan Grim.

‘Congratulations Robby! Wishing you both many great years ahead!’ Iversen gushed.

Soave is a decorated journalist who made it onto Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2016.

He’s published two books, is a regular on Fox News and is currently the longest-serving co-host on Rising, which is one of YouTube’s biggest political talk shows.

His partner Jie Jung Shih is a student at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Shih is active in the LGBTQ+ community, and was one of a group of med students who volunteered at Capital Pride Festival in Washington last year.