White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash Over Edited Photos of Older Husband

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced widespread social media backlash after posting Halloween photos featuring her husband Nicholas Riccio, 60, and their 16-month-old son at the White House and Naval Observatory. Observers quickly noted that Riccio's face appeared heavily airbrushed and unnaturally smooth in contrast to his visibly aged hands, sparking accusations of photo editing meant to make him look younger. The 32-year age gap between Leavitt, 28, and Riccio has long attracted public scrutiny and fueled online commentary, with many users mocking the couple and questioning the authenticity of the images. Despite the festive context of the photos, much of the public conversation centered on transparency and authenticity, especially given Leavitt's role as a public official who emphasizes openness. The contrasting appearance between the Instagram images and unedited press photos intensified the debate, drawing attention to broader issues of image manipulation in political communications. Leavitt has not publicly addressed the controversy, although she has previously spoken about her relationship and family life in media interviews.