Trump Weighs Potential Replacements for Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary
President Donald Trump is facing a key communications decision as speculation grows over who could succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. Leavitt announced that she plans to leave the administration at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. Her departure will create a high-profile vacancy at the center of the White House communications operation. Several names have emerged as possible successors, including Alina Habba, principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and conservative commentator Scott Jennings.
Habba, a longtime Trump ally and former personal attorney, has previously been mentioned for the position. She later served in senior government roles, including as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Jennings has also attracted attention because of his frequent defense of Trump and his administration during televised political discussions. He was reportedly considered for the press secretary position after Trump’s 2024 election victory before Leavitt was selected.
Kelly represents another potential option from within the existing communications team. As principal deputy press secretary, she gained greater visibility while Leavitt was on maternity leave and participated in the administration’s broader media outreach. The White House could also decide against immediately naming a permanent replacement.
Senior Officials Fill In During Absences
During Leavitt’s recent absence, senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent participated in briefings and answered questions from reporters. Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump’s relationship with the eventual successor will likely be an important factor in the decision. Spicer, who served during Trump’s first administration, has ruled himself out of consideration.
Other figures reportedly mentioned in discussions include Katie Miller, Stephen Cheung, Matthew Boyle and Taylor Budowich. The next press secretary will inherit a demanding role that requires communicating White House policy, responding to reporters and defending the administration during moments of intense political scrutiny. Leavitt has served approximately 19 months, making her tenure one of the longer periods among Trump’s press secretaries. Her successor will now face the task of maintaining the administration’s communications strategy while establishing a personal relationship with the president and the White House press corps.