White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced widespread trolling online after posting Halloween photos that appeared to show her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 60, with an unusually smooth and youthful-looking face. The images, shared on Instagram, were taken during the White House and Naval Observatory’s Halloween celebrations, where the couple posed with their 16-month-old son, Niko.Eagle-eyed users quickly spotted inconsistencies in Riccio’s appearance. His face appeared heavily airbrushed, while his hands revealed clear signs of age. The alleged photo editing ignited a social media storm, with thousands commenting on the couple’s 32-year age gap and accusing Leavitt of trying to make her husband look decades younger.
The photo that sparked the controversy
The now-viral post showed Leavitt, Riccio, and their son posing outside the White House decorated with pumpkins, followed by another image taken on the steps of Vice President JD Vance’s residence at the Naval Observatory. While intended as a light-hearted family moment, many viewers focused less on the festive setting and more on Riccio’s digitally altered appearance.The couple’s relationship has long drawn public curiosity since Leavitt, then a rising political aide, married the New Hampshire real estate developer more than three decades her senior. Their public appearances, from the White House Easter Egg Roll to official events, often attract both admiration and criticism online, reflecting the intense scrutiny faced by political figures in their personal lives.
Social media reacts: ‘Only the face got the filter’
Within hours of the post, Instagram users flooded Leavitt’s comments section with mocking and sarcastic remarks. Many pointed out the obvious difference between Riccio’s face and his hands, joking that the edit was “only half done.”“The airbrushing of your hubby’s face to make him appear younger was the trick,” one user wrote.“The guy on the left seems to have only his face photoshopped. His hands look like 60+ years old. What happened?” another commented.“Oh how cute, father, daughter, and grandchild,” one remark read, referencing the couple’s large age gap.Several users compared Leavitt’s post to press photos from the same event, noting that Riccio’s face looked noticeably more natural in official images taken by agencies like Getty.
A recurring spotlight on the Leavitt Riccio marriage
Leavitt, 28, has previously spoken about her relationship with Riccio, calling it a “very atypical love story.” The pair met in 2022 through a mutual friend in New Hampshire, welcomed their son Niko in 2023, and married later that year. Their age gap and family photos have repeatedly attracted public attention, both supportive and critical.
