Vanity Fair dropped a bold series of ultra-intimate portraits featuring top officials from President Trump’s second administration, and one image in particular has taken the internet by storm.
Photographer Christopher Anderson’s extreme close-ups captured every detail of these power players during a special shoot at the White House, turning a standard profile feature into a massive online conversation dominated by 28-year-old Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Award-winning photographer Christopher Anderson spent November 13 at the White House, meeting each subject in their personal office. Armed with a medium-format camera and careful lighting, he applied his signature style of very close portraiture to reveal freckles, lines, hair strands, and even subtle makeup details.
Anderson has used this approach for years across political figures from all sides. He told outlets that the goal remains simple: penetrate the usual theater of politics and capture something more truthful. The results align intriguingly with the administration’s frequent claims of running the most transparent operation in history, offering viewers an unusually direct look at leaders typically seen through polished filters.
The Power Players Featured
The series highlights key members of Trump’s tight-knit team:
- Chief of Staff Susie Wiles → the first woman in the role and a behind-the-scenes force Trump calls the “Ice Maiden”
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt → the young “mouthpiece” of the administration
- Vice President JD Vance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio → who also got a thoughtful candid shot gazing out a window
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller
- Director of Presidential Personnel Dan Scavino
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs James Blair
Anderson selected shots that best represented each person, maintaining consistency while adapting slightly when inspiration struck.
Why Karoline Leavitt Became the Breakout Star
Leavitt’s portrait quickly emerged as the most captivating. Anderson chose to get “even closer” with her, creating an image that drew intense focus. After being posted on Vanity Fair’s Instagram, it surged to more than 20,000 views and 2,000 comments in just hours, far outpacing the others.
Viewers zeroed in on every visible detail, including what many speculated were marks from cosmetic injections on her lips. The raw intensity sparked endless discussion, cementing Leavitt as the series’ focal point and highlighting the spotlight that follows the administration’s youngest, high-profile voice.
Reactions flooded in fast. Users called the close-ups “jump scares,” “diabolical,” and “crazy,” with some joking about needing content warnings. Comedian Kelsey Darragh summed up the shock over Leavitt’s shot with a plea for a heads-up next time.
A Revealing Moment with Stephen Miller
One standout behind-the-scenes exchange added extra layers. After his session, Stephen Miller approached Anderson and gently noted the photographer’s power to be kind in how he portrays subjects. Anderson responded pointedly: “You know, you do too.”
The brief conversation underscores shared responsibility in shaping perceptions, especially resonant in an administration built on strong media presence.
Susie Wiles later pushed back against the article, calling certain quotes “disingenuously false” and out of context, though she remained silent on the visuals themselves.
Ultimately, Vanity Fair’s daring approach delivered portraits that feel immediate and real, reminding everyone that power comes with very human faces. Leavitt’s viral moment proves these images hit a cultural nerve, blending art, politics, and unfiltered reality in a way few shoots manage.
Which portrait surprised you the most, and what does it say about political imagery today? Share your hottest takes in the comments.
