A photograph initially published only once has gained significant traction online after the White House reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the image. The picture features Karoline Leavitt dressed in Pilgrim attire alongside her young son and "Waddle," one of the president's pardoned turkeys.

The Image's Sudden Rise to Prominence

The image appeared to have minimal circulation before it was withdrawn from the database where it was originally hosted. However, the removal has ironically fueled its spread, as notable figures have begun sharing it widely across social media platforms.

Reactions from Political Commentators

Former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann commented on the situation, stating, “It ran only in a Swiss newspaper. It would be a shame if you retweeted and Streisanded it.” Political consultant Kaivan Shroff also posted, “This is the picture the White House didn’t want you to see. You know what to do.”

Details of the Controversial Photograph

The image in question is a screen grab from the Swiss publication Tages-Anzeiger. It captures Karoline Leavitt with her son Nicholas and Waddle, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys.

Context and Removal by AFP

The photo was taken in the White House press briefing room before the turkey pardoning ceremony involving President Donald Trump on November 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. The image was subsequently pulled by the AFP (Agence France-Presse).

Grégoire Lemarchand, AFP's director of brand and communications, confirmed the agency was “made aware” that the White House disliked the photograph. He maintained that the decision to remove it was “an internal editorial one, based on our standard quality and selection criteria.” However, Oliver Darcy of Status noted that a formal demand from the White House is not necessary for an agency to pull an image.

History of White House Sensitivity to Photography

This incident follows previous instances where administration officials reacted strongly to unflattering media portrayals. Cabinet officials previously expressed frustration with Vanity Fair over a magazine spread featuring seemingly unflattering photos.

Past Incidents Involving Leavitt and Other Officials

That Vanity Fair spread included a zoomed-in picture of Leavitt highlighting what appeared to be injection sites on her upper lip, as well as a close-up black and white image of Marco Rubio where his pores were visible. Much attention has previously been focused on Karoline Leavitt’s mouth following the portrait in the Vanity Fair article.

Furthermore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly banned photographers from the Pentagon for a briefing concerning the Iran war after complaining about unflattering pictures taken of him. President Donald Trump, known for being conscious of his image, has also reportedly called out photographers for capturing images he dislikes, especially when those images gain widespread distribution, according to New York Times photographer Doug Mills.