News Agency Pulls Viral Karoline Leavitt Image

The White House press secretary complained the photo was 'unflattering', but the agency said it didn't meet editorial standards.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A photo of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt taken at a Thanksgiving event has gone viral after the 28-year-old reportedly complained that it was 'unflattering'. The news agency that published the photo, AFP, later removed it, stating that it 'did not meet our editorial standards', not because of the White House's complaints.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the White House and the media, with government officials sometimes attempting to control how they are portrayed in news coverage. It also speaks to the broader issue of how politicians and public figures react to unflattering media portrayals.

The details

The photo in question was taken during a Thanksgiving event at the White House. Leavitt, who is 28 years old, reportedly complained that the image was 'unflattering'. In response, the news agency AFP removed the photo, stating that it 'did not meet our editorial standards', rather than due to the White House's complaints.

  • The photo was taken during a Thanksgiving event at the White House.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The 28-year-old White House Press Secretary who reportedly complained that a photo of her taken at a Thanksgiving event was 'unflattering'.

AFP

The news agency that published the photo of Karoline Leavitt and later removed it, stating that it 'did not meet our editorial standards'.

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What they’re saying

“This specific image did not meet our editorial standards.”

— AFP spokesperson

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the White House and the media, with government officials sometimes attempting to control how they are portrayed in news coverage. It also speaks to the broader issue of how politicians and public figures react to unflattering media portrayals.