Scoop: AFP snapped an unflattering photo of Karoline Leavitt that incensed the White House--resulting in complaints to...

[demmiblue]

Scoop: AFP snapped an unflattering photo of Karoline Leavitt that incensed the White House—resulting in complaints to news agency and its ultimate removal from the wire service.

We found the photo in question and have the behind-the-scenes story in @status.news: www.status.news/p/karoline-l...

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy.bsky.social) 2026-03-31T01:45:10.187Z

.
Oh sorry.
You mean *this* photo?

— smurfsup | hi, .w=en r we mee&ting to do iLlegiL stuff , . ? (@smurfsup.bsky.social) 2026-03-31T02:56:17.860Z

The White House Picture Police

In late November, Karoline Leavitt strode into the briefing room, holding her young son in her arms. A few steps behind Leavitt was “Waddle” the turkey, who was set to receive the traditional presidential pardon, but first made a stop in the briefing room. “We have Waddle,” Leavitt exclaimed to the room full of reporters. “Come on in, Waddle!”

The turkey obliged, taking its spot next to the lectern in the White House briefing room as the tone in the usually serious room took on a playful tone. Reporters jokingly asked the turkey a series of questions. “Waddle, why are you getting a pardon? What did you do wrong?” one journalist asked.

Amid the fun, photographers snapped dozens of images of the scene. Among those many pictures of the Thanksgiving spectacle was one in particular that incensed the White House—setting off a remarkable chain of events, with the image ultimately being pulled from the AFP and Getty Images wire photo libraries, Status has learned.

The photo, snapped by AFP photographer Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, captured Leavitt…

https://www.status.news/p/karoline-leavitt-photo-pulled-afp-getty-white-house

[druidity33]

1. She was unhappy that her wattle was exposed. nt.

[yourout]

2. Someone should have asked the turkey what was the cost of the pardon.

How big of a crypto deposit?

[Celerity]

3. Oh Karoline, STFU piggy!

[leftstreet]

4. What's wrong with it?

She looks like a young happy Mom

You'd probably find a million photos just like it on Facebook

Images like these could have gone miles to make the putrid Trump administration more relatable. These people are so stupid

[Lucky Luciano]

10. The double chin probably mortified them. 😂

[yardwork]

14. And that right there sums up these people.

Superficial glamour is celebrated. Actual family values and human traits like holding your child and having a normal mom face and body are considered shameful.

Trump family values.

[whathehell]

11. I agree completely..I see nothing at all 'wrong'

with it.

[Swede]

5. Kind of the Streisand effect,no?

Everyone is now gonna want to see this photo.

[hadEnuf]

6. These disgusting posers just think they are better than everybody else.

Talk about elitist.

[mwmisses4289]

7. Her kid does not look happy.

Caro, my dear, there ain't no photo in the world that's going to make you look good, much less "flattering".

[whathehell]

13. Her kid looks fine and so does she..

This appears to be one of DU's less compelling topics.

[NickB79]

8. Literally no one looks good from that angle

Big whoop.

[lonely bird]

9. Sigh

Every day I look for the lever to flush the Trump administration out of office. Still can’t find the damn thing.

What a bunch of petty, vindictive little snowflakes.

[Ray Bruns]

12. Fucking grow up, would you?

[underpants]

15. Gawd. What petty little glamour queens (including Kegsbreath) they are

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Given how foul Leavitt is, I'd much rather have THAT fowl at the podium.

[MustLoveBeagles]

19. ...

[sindri]

17. Is it because

the photo actually makes her look like a decent human being? I guess that is pretty off-brand for this administration.

[MustLoveBeagles]

18. Waddle looks great

Seriously this isn't a bad photo at all. Levitt's being a prima donna .
.