White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, is no stranger to public attention — but her latest social media post has sparked a very different kind of debate.
The controversy began after Leavitt, who made history as the youngest person ever to hold her position, shared a Halloween photo featuring her husband, real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, and their infant son. The couple dressed festively, with their baby in a tiny pumpkin outfit. What was meant to be a sweet family moment quickly became the internet’s latest talking point.
A Love Story That Defied Convention
Leavitt and Riccio’s relationship has always drawn public curiosity. The pair met in 2022, when Leavitt was running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire. Despite losing that election, she gained both political visibility — and a future husband.
“A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at his restaurant in New Hampshire and invited my husband,” Leavitt recalled during a recent appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show.
“I was speaking there, and that’s how we met.”
Their relationship blossomed despite a 32-year age gap, which Leavitt has described as “unusual but beautiful.”
“It’s a very atypical love story, but he’s incredible,” she said, adding that Riccio’s support has been vital as she juggles her demanding role and motherhood.
The couple married in January 2025, just weeks before a turbulent period in U.S. politics. Their son, Niko, was born shortly before the attempted assassination of President Trump, an event that prompted Leavitt to return to work earlier than planned.
“I saw it on TV and told my husband, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’” she shared in a later interview.
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The Photoshop Allegations
The recent backlash, however, centers not on politics but pixels. After Leavitt posted the Halloween photo to Instagram, some followers claimed that her husband’s appearance had been digitally altered to make him look younger.
“The airbrushing of your hub’s face to make him appear younger was the trick,” one user commented.
Another joked, “My friends noticed something — the guy on the left seems to have only his face photoshopped. His hands look 60+ years old.”
The post was quickly flooded with remarks comparing Riccio’s seemingly smooth complexion to his visible wrinkles elsewhere.
“Why does her husband look 50 but his hands look 70?” one fan wrote.
“That smoothing filter is working overtime,” another added.
Others were more blunt:
“You can’t hide your grandhusband’s old age with Photoshop, girl!”
A Divided Internet
While some poked fun at the alleged edits, others defended Leavitt’s choice to present her husband in a flattering light.
“Every couple edits photos,” one supporter commented. “People are acting like this is breaking news.”
Others noted the double standard: public figures, especially women, are frequently criticized for how they manage their image online.
“Men in politics can post filtered photos all day long,” one user wrote. “But when a woman does it, suddenly it’s scandalous.”
Balancing Public and Private Life
Between managing press conferences and new motherhood, Leavitt has been candid about the pressures of public life.
“Every working mother understands the demands — and the guilt,” she told The Christian Broadcasting Network earlier this year. “But I spend every second I can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.”
Final Thoughts
The so-called “Photoshop scandal” may be just another blip in the whirlwind of online gossip, but it underscores the scrutiny that public figures — particularly women — face in the digital age.
As for Leavitt, she hasn’t publicly responded to the controversy. But if her past composure is any indication, she’ll likely brush it off the same way she’s handled every other headline — with a smile, confidence, and the same line she’s often used about her marriage:
“Age is just a number. What matters is love, respect, and laughter — even when the internet forgets that.”
