A vacation photo puts Leavitt at the center of debate.

Karoline Leavitt has gained a big following online since joining the White House. At 28, she became the 36th White House press secretary. She also ran as the Republican candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022. Since 2025, she has handled communications for President Donald Trump.

Leavitt has nearly three million followers on Instagram. She often posts about her work and her family life, as well as pics from her vacation. This week, one of her photos started a real debate online.

The photo shows her wearing a one-piece swimsuit during a family vacation. Another account reposted it and questioned if it was appropriate for someone in Karoline Leavitt’s role. The post received more than 1.1 million views. However, the image definitely appeared to be altered by AI. The original photo was actually shared on her Instagram account back in 2023.

Online Reactions Split

Karoline Leavitt (Photo Via Imagn Images)
The account that reposted the swimsuit image asked, “Do you believe Karoline Leavitt’s photo is suitable for someone serving as White House Press Secretary?”

Karoline Leavitt Bikini

Supporters quickly pushed back.

“Why is a women in a swimsuit controversial?? Is it because she is attractive??” one fan wrote.


“Why not? Are press secretary’s not allowed to swim? It’s not even a bikini,” another user added.

Others framed the debate as unnecessary. “Yep! She looks fantastic and dressed for the occasion. What do we live in, Khomeni’s Iran?” one person wrote.

One commenter from abroad voiced support as well. “Why not, she is a very good looking woman. We have a lot other things to talk about. I want to say, I love her work, I hope she will stay a long time in this job. She is doing a very good job, I’m from Germany, but I want to thank her for the very good work she delivers every day.@PressSec „Thank you, Karoline Leavitt, you Mom and Dad can be very proud of you,” the user wrote.


The debate shows how public figures are judged not just for their work, but also for images shared online, even ones that appear to be AI-made.

Leavitt continues to handle her daily responsibilities at the White House while the online discussion continues.