After all, our interest in age gaps is related to questions of power.
The 10 politicians on this list are in newsworthy age-gap relationships.
In some cases, the politician is the elder party, raising questions about consent and power dynamics.
In other cases, the politician is the younger one, surprising commentators and followers.
In all cases, politicians are worth scrutinizing, as hypocrisy around age can affect their ability to govern.
Leavitt is the youngest press secretary in American history, assuming the role at only 27 years old.
Indeed, Leavitt brings a great deal of drama to her new role.
“Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator.
Donald and Melania Trump have a 24-year age gap
President Donald Trump has been married several times.
He left Maples for a Slovenian model named Melania, who became his third wife.
They met at a Fashion Week party in the late 1990s, according to her memoir “Melania.”
But I was still doing them.
She reposted his withdrawal announcement onX, formerly Twitter, writing, “The end of an era.”
She ultimately decided to attend, and they fell in love.
“I have been traveling with him everywhere,” she said.
“I am his travel buddy.”
They were engaged by the end of the year, when she was 26 years old.
“Through the scholarship that he provides, I’ve not had to have a job through college.
I’ve been able to train, improve, focus on FFA, and focus on school.
That scholarship has made all the difference,” she said.
“He has also coached me during my preparation, which has been extremely helpful.”
They were married within four years of meeting.
Rose’s constituents seem unhappy with the relationship.
Many commenters replied simply, “Groomer.”
When they met, for example, Joe was already a senator.
At a fundraiser, Jill explained her initial hesitation to dating the man who would become her spouse.
It was the 1970s, and she recalled, “It was Vietnam, love beads, equal rights.
He stepped down from the nomination mere weeks later.
They stuck it out, however, remaining together even as he lost re-election.
“I wanted to show him I was a poet, eh?
Poet he never had … Third marriage, but with a poet, no?
Fun doesn’t really work with this kind of position, so I couldn’t play around.”
In the case of President Emmanuel Macron, however, the age gap actually goes the other direction.
Macron’s wife Brigitte is the older one, clocking in at 24 years his senior.
Brigitte told Paris Match, “For me, such a young boy was crippling.
Emmanuel had to leave for Paris.
She added, “It didn’t happen.”
Instead, they stayed in touch and reconnected romantically.
They married in 2007, making the then-future president a stepdad to Brigitte’s adult children.
“I had many brilliant pupils, and none had his capability,” she said.
“I have always admired him.”
Her expenses will see to that” (viaThe Daily Mail).
The headlines she generated while her husband was in office weren’t all bad, however.
In 2018, she made international news when she jumped into a lake to rescue her dog.
Brazilian commenters made jokes about that, too.
One wrote, “Marcela’s dog tried to commit suicide!
It couldn’t put up with Temer!”
