White House Objection Leads to Removal of Unflattering Karoline Leavitt Photo
An unflattering photograph of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been removed from circulation following an objection from Donald Trump's administration. The image, captured during a Thanksgiving event in November 2025, showed Leavitt holding her son on her lap with the pardoned turkey "Waddle" prominently in the background.
Editorial Decision or Political Pressure?
Grégoire Lemarchand, AFP's director of brand and communications, confirmed the removal in a statement. He explained that while the agency was "made aware" that White House staff found the photo unflattering, the decision to take it down was purely editorial. "It was an internal editorial one, based on our standard quality and selection criteria," Lemarchand stated.
He emphasized that there was no formal request from the White House and no external pressure involved in the removal. The photo was one of dozens taken at the event by AFP photographer Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, but it was the only one reportedly withdrawn after the complaint.
The Controversial Thanksgiving Scene
The image captured a lighthearted moment from the annual turkey pardon ceremony, where Leavitt introduced Waddle before reporters asked mock pre-pardon questions. One journalist humorously inquired, "Waddle, why are you getting a pardon? What did you do wrong?"
Lemarchand detailed the editorial process, noting that during high-volume events like White House briefings, photos are moved quickly from the photographer's camera to ensure timely delivery. Upon review, the editor-in-chief determined this specific image had a poor angle and that superior alternatives were already available on the wire.
Agency Maintains Editorial Independence
Despite the White House's objection, AFP maintains that the removal was based on quality standards rather than political influence. "We want to be clear that there was no formal request to remove it, nor was there any external pressure involved," Lemarchand reiterated.
Anne Flanagan, vice president of brand and communications for Getty Images, which also distributed the photo, did not confirm whether her outlet received similar complaints from the Trump White House. The incident highlights the delicate balance between journalistic integrity and access to powerful institutions in the digital age.
