I don’t usually dwell on other people’s relationships, but sometimes the pictures themselves make you pause — and these snaps of Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio do exactly that. It’s not just that the couple are at different stages in life; there’s a pattern to how the photos are shared, edited, and read by the public that keeps bringing the age gap into sharper focus. I’ll be honest: some of it feels a little petty, sure, but other parts are oddly revealing about how we interpret images online.
A botched attempt to smooth time
There was one Instagram post that really stood out — and not for a flattering reason. In an October 2025 roundup, Riccio looked unusually wrinkle-free, almost like a younger man had been pasted into the frame. At first glance, you might think, hey, great lighting, good genes — but a closer look and earlier pictures told a different story. His forehead lines were present in past photos; suddenly, they were gone in that reel. The result? Folks online didn’t praise the glow; they pointed to the airbrushing.
People noticed. Comments ranged from mild teasing to straight-up mockery. Someone joked about the airbrushing; another pointed out that she had “fixed” his face but not his hands — and hands lie. That particular attempt to make him look younger had the opposite effect: it drew attention to the very thing it tried to hide. I get why Leavitt might want the public-facing version of her husband to look a certain way; we all edit our lives. Still, this one felt like trying a little too hard.
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Different photos, same reaction
It’s not a one-off. A spring weekend getaway in May 2025 produced a fresh round of comments. In those shots Riccio looked older — as in, closer to sixty — and the internet responded with cruelty and quips. Some comments were just blunt: “Is that the baby’s grandfather?” and worse. But not every reaction was mean. I’ll admit, a few people said in honest tones that they found him attractive — “Your gramps is hot,” wrote someone, as odd as that sounds. People are inconsistent; I am, too. Some critics mock, some defend, and some simply gawk.
Group shots are the clearest mirror
Group photos seem to make the contrast most obvious. At a baseball game with friends, Riccio was noticeably older than the crowd. When you stand beside people in their twenties, age differences become a visual fact. Karoline sometimes leans into more conservative outfits — “old lady” vibes, as some have called it — maybe as a way to bridge the visual gap. That strategy doesn’t always help. One friend’s candid shot led to the predictable snark: “Wow, look at the grandpa!” Harsh, yes, but these are the sorts of offhand observations social media loves.
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Captions that accidentally add fuel
Words matter. There was a snapshot where Karoline captioned a weekend as a reunion of childhood friends; the phrasing was harmless but it amplified the oddness for some. If you write “when your childhood best friend marries your brother’s childhood best friend,” people fill in blanks — and a few filled them with jokes about grandpas. It’s strange how a benign line can make people rewrite a picture’s story. I’ve done it myself: you post a throwaway caption and then watch the narrative unfold in the comments like someone else’s screenplay.
Vacation photos that confuse faces
Their early pictures together were telling. On a 2023 family trip to the Dominican Republic, the couple didn’t look overly affectionate — which, to be fair, doesn’t mean anything about their bond. Still, in a sea of relatives, Riccio could’ve passed for an uncle or even a parent. It’s an awkward read when the man beside you is close in age to your mom. I don’t want to be reductive; age is just a number, etc., yet images tell immediate stories and viewers are fast to interpret.
Engagements and weddings — inviting commentary
When they announced their engagement and later shared wedding photos, the response was predictably split. Supporters celebrated. Trolls, well, did what they do. Some comments cut deep, comparing the match to infamous relationships and making unkind associations. That such remarks landed on their happiest moments feels unnecessary. But that’s the internet: it celebrates, then scolds, then moves on — and sometimes it lingers on the smallest detail, like a forehead line or a gray temple.
Parenting moments and public scrutiny
Karoline has often mentioned that Riccio is a hands-on dad. She posted a day when he brought their son to the White House — a sentimental shot, meant to be proud. Yet even paternal moments were not immune to barbs. Someone called him “grandpa” in the comments; another praised his style while still throwing in the age-related jibe. It’s striking how a scene intended to show family can be reframed as a punchline.
Trying to look younger — and missing the mark
There were stylistic attempts, too. Riccio once tried a youthful look — a fade haircut and a backwards cap, perhaps to blend in with younger crowds. To me, it felt like someone experimenting with style. To others, it read as a man trying too hard to chase youth. The backlash? More amusement than malice, but the pattern was clear: when the couple presented a younger aesthetic, people either applauded the effort or mocked the mismatch. Rarely neutral ground.
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Why we keep staring
Why does this matter? Maybe we’re fascinated by contrast. Maybe some people project stories onto photos because it’s easy. Or maybe it’s simply human to notice age differences and make assumptions. I’ve noticed my own mixed feelings — sometimes protective of the couple, sometimes curious, sometimes annoyed at online cruelty. The truth is, photos are only a slice of life. They invite interpretation, but they don’t tell the whole story.
Final thought
You can scroll through dozens of images and stitch together a narrative — but that narrative is often more about the viewer than the subjects. Karoline and Nicholas will keep living their life, posting some photos, skipping others. The comments will pile up, some kind, some cruel. That’s human nature, I suppose — and messy, inconsistent, and very much alive.
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