White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to ever hold the position, has come under fire online after a photo of her feeding her infant son while working at her desk went viral. Critics have accused her of using her 9-month-old son, Nicholas Robert Riccio, as a “prop” for political propaganda ahead of Mother’s Day.
The photo, shared on social media by Margo Martin, special assistant to the president and communications advisor, showed Leavitt multitasking — typing with one hand while feeding her baby with the other. The image was captioned, “Walked in to @PressSec typing with one hand, and feeding her son with the other,” along with a glowing description calling Leavitt a “Super Mom!”
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While the post was seemingly intended to highlight Leavitt’s dedication both as a mother and a professional, many online users were quick to call out the photo as staged and inappropriate.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “This is ‘pro mom’? Yeah we’re cooked.” Another added, “A bunch of federal workers had to go back to the office full time because they were accused of stuff like this. It’s cool if they do it, though. No worries. Elites kinda just get to do what they want.”
The image and its timing just days before Leavitt’s first Mother’s Day ignited debate over work-life balance, political image-making, and perceived double standards. In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Leavitt spoke candidly about the challenges of motherhood and her evolving priorities since becoming a parent.
“I’m very blessed to have this job, and I love my job as press secretary, but my favorite job of all, and my top priority, is my job of being a mother, and I have learned quickly how to prioritize my time,” she said.
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Leavitt credits her support system, including her mother Erin, father Bob, and husband Nicholas, a 59-year-old real estate developer, for helping her balance life at the White House with raising her son, affectionately nicknamed Niko.
“It’s challenging,” she admitted. “You can do it. Lean on your support system and prioritize your number one job, which is to be the best mom you can be.” Despite the controversy, Leavitt has not responded directly to the backlash. Still, the viral photo has sparked broader conversations about gender, motherhood, and optics in high-profile political roles.
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