White House Searches for Karoline Leavitt’s Successor, Names Touted for Trump Spokeswoman Role

The question of who will succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary has become one of the most widely discussed topics within Donald Trump’s circle in Washington.

The debate began after President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Leavitt would leave her post at the end of the month to devote more time to her young family. The decision comes less than three months before the midterm elections and is expected to affect how the administration manages its relations with the public and the media.

Choosing a successor is not expected to be straightforward for Trump, who often sees himself as his own best spokesman. Leavitt not only had a strong presence in front of reporters but had also become one of the president’s most trusted advisers.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told CNN: “She is one of a kind. No one will ever be able to do what she did.”

So far, no clear favorite has emerged. One source told CNN that some White House staff members did not immediately have an idea of who could be entrusted with the position. According to a source close to the administration, Trump may delay the appointment until after the midterm elections. The possibility of leaving the position vacant for the remainder of his term has even been discussed.

However, one Republican operative said the position should be filled without delay because of the important role the press secretary could play in the run-up to the midterm elections.

About a dozen candidates are being mentioned in discussions among advisers and communications professionals close to Trump. The White House has described these lists as speculation. CNN has been unable to verify whether the president is seriously considering any of them or whether those being discussed want the job.

Among the names being floated is Scott Jennings, a current CNN contributor and former White House official in the George W. Bush administration. According to a source familiar with the matter, he had previously received Donald Trump Jr.’s backing for a senior spokesperson role during the presidential transition.

Jennings, however, has distanced himself from the idea of taking the position. He has publicly praised Leavitt, ranking her among the best White House press secretaries of recent decades.

Another possible candidate is Alina Habba, Trump’s former attorney and political adviser. She briefly served as interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey and is regarded as someone who has the president’s trust.

Anna Kelly, the principal deputy press secretary and Leavitt’s second-in-command, is also part of the discussions. Kelly is among the officials authorized to represent the White House in the media, including on Fox News.

Tricia McLaughlin has also been mentioned. She became better known to the public while serving as a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman and defending Trump’s border policies.

The list also includes Elizabeth Pipko, a former model and former Republican National Committee spokeswoman known for her close ties to the Trump family. A source close to the president said her candidacy had also been considered before Leavitt was selected.

Another possibility is Monica Crowley, a former Fox News analyst and the current U.S. chief of protocol. She often accompanies the president on trips and welcomes world leaders visiting the United States to Washington.

Roma Daravi has also been presented on social media as a possible candidate. During Trump’s first term, she worked in his press office, while she now serves as communications director at the Kennedy Center.

Another name is Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law. She led the Republican National Committee during the 2024 presidential campaign and currently hosts a weekly show on Fox News.

Others who have been discussed include Jason Miller, one of Trump’s longtime communications operatives; Harrison Fields, a former principal deputy press secretary; and Sage Steele, a former ESPN host who has become an ally of the MAGA movement.

Prediction markets have also begun assessing the odds of the appointment. Kalshi Politics placed Alina Habba, Anna Kelly, Jason Miller and Roma Daravi at the top of its ranking of potential candidates.

CNN sources say the situation remains unclear in part because Leavitt’s decision to leave caught the president and the White House unprepared.

Before giving birth to her second child in May, Leavitt had privately suggested that she might remain in the job through the end of Trump’s second term. However, some staff members had expressed concern that she had not developed a distinct group of officials ready to succeed her.

One source told CNN: “The team was never really given the freedom to be seen as the heir apparent.” The same source added that Leavitt’s predecessors during Trump’s first term had done more to give lower-level staff members visibility and responsibility.

According to Trump, Leavitt will remain an outside adviser. She may therefore continue to influence the final selection of her successor.

In the short term, the administration could follow the model used while Leavitt was on maternity leave. Under that approach, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials could be called upon to communicate the administration’s positions and answer reporters’ questions.

Trump does not behave like a traditional president who relies on the press secretary to handle media communications. He frequently speaks directly with reporters and is known for exchanging phone calls and messages with journalists.

Despite this, whoever takes the job must have the president’s complete trust.

Erin Maguire, a Republican strategist and spokeswoman for Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, said she does not believe the position will be given to anyone outside the president’s inner circle.

“It is a small group of people in his orbit who are qualified and capable enough to be considered,” she said.

In addition to qualifications, the image a candidate projects to the public will also carry weight.

According to a source close to Trump, “everything is viewed through the eyes of central casting,” meaning the president also attaches importance to a candidate’s appearance and how that person is perceived publicly.

Another source suggested that Trump might prefer someone with a lower profile than Leavitt. During his second term, she built an Instagram audience of more than 3 million followers.

Many of the potential candidates have publicly defended Trump and his policies in right-leaning media. Leavitt, meanwhile, entrenched the practice of selecting friendly reporters to ask questions at press briefings, including representatives of “new media.”

However, whoever steps up to the podium must be able to handle questions on any subject.

A source close to Trump said: “I don’t think people understand how much studying it takes to do that job, how much reading and how much of a comprehensive understanding of every issue you might be asked about.”

Ultimately, the main challenge for Leavitt’s successor will be to win over a crucial audience of just one person: President Donald Trump.

Maguire summed up the importance of the choice by saying: “It is the biggest podium in the world, so filling this role is one of the biggest calculations the president will make, because he cares about the message and he cares about the messenger.”