Karoline Leavitt Drops Raw Photo of ‘Handsome’ Husband, 60, After She Was Mocked Over Photo Manipulation

Washington D.C. –White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a candid, unretouched look into her family’s Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday, posting a series of Instagram Stories that featured her 60-year-old husband, Nicholas Riccio, in a rare moment of domestic spotlight.

The images—capturing Riccio carving a turkey aimed to served as a subtle rebuttal to weeks of online mockery over alleged photo manipulation.

Leavitt’s posts painted a picture of cozy tradition amid the high-stakes world of Washington politics. One standout image showed Riccio, dressed in a casual plaid shirt, expertly slicing into a perfectly roasted turkey resting in a foil pan on a granite countertop. Her caption read simply: “My handsome hubs cuttin the [turkey emoji]!!!”

The unedited photo highlighted Riccio’s focused expression and the everyday authenticity of the scene, a departure from his usual preference for privacy.

Additional snapshots rounded out the festive narrative: Leavitt sliding the bird into the oven with the upbeat note, “The bird is in the oven… Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!”; a spread of classic sides including green beans, mashed potatoes, mini crescent rolls, and mac and cheese; and a elegantly set dining table under chandelier light, adorned with Thanksgiving placemats and fine plates.

These glimpses humanized the 28-year-old press secretary, who juggles briefings with the Brady Press Corps and motherhood to their 1-year-old son, Nicholas (named after his father).

For Riccio—a self-made real estate developer through his Riccio Enterprises LLC, the exposure was atypical. Leavitt has often described him as “very introverted” and content to remain “behind the scenes,” allowing her to thrive in the public eye.

The Thanksgiving photos arrived on the heels of biting criticism from a White House Halloween event earlier in November. Leavitt shared family photos from the celebration, where the couple brought young Nicholas to the executive mansion. Social media users quickly zeroed in on Riccio’s unusually smooth complexion, accusing her of photo photo manipulation to shave years off his appearance.

Comments flooded in: “The airbrushing of your hub’s face to make him appear younger was the trick,” one wrote. Another observed, “Karoline, Awesome picture, but my friends noticed something: The guy on the left seems to have only his face photoshopped. His hands look like 60+ years old. What happened?” A third quipped, “Why does her husband look 50 but she only 28 yrs old,” while a fourth noted, “Man that smoothing filter on her old man’s forehead working overtime.”

TRENDING: ‘It’s Very Difficult’: Karoline Leavitt Reveals She’s Traumatized Working for Trump

The scrutiny amplified the couple’s 32-year age gap, a topic Leavitt has addressed with poise. In a recent episode of the “Pod Force One” podcast with Miranda Devine, she acknowledged the unconventional dynamic: “It is very unusual.”

Yet, she emphasized its strength, saying, “He is amazing. We were acquainted as friends for quite some time, but then, of course, we fell in love. And here we are today, we’re married with a beautiful baby, and he is just an amazing guy.”

Leavitt has been forthright about navigating family reactions to the age difference. On Devine’s podcast, she recounted the “challenging conversation” with her parents: “Once they got to know him and saw who he is as a man and his character and how much he adores me, I think it became quite easy for them.”

TOP STORIES

• Karoline Leavitt Goes Mute After Family Member Is Captured by ICE Goons
• ‘A Day With Grandpa’: Karoline Leavitt, 28, Accused of Manipulating Photo to Make Her 60-Year-Old Husband Look Younger
• Trump screws his 3-time voter on live TV after she begs for help – then boasts, ‘I think she’d vote for me again’

Leavitt portrays Riccio not just as a partner, but as her ultimate advocate. “He’s built his career, so he’s in a place where he can support me in mine,” she explained.

Despite his aversion to publicity, Riccio remains deeply engaged in her world: “He’s just an amazing guy, and he is my number one fan. He watches every interview, every press briefing.”