The race has begun in Washington to replace Caroline Leavitt, who is expected to step down as White House Press Secretary at the end of the month. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Leavitt wants to devote more time to her young family.
Her departure comes less than three months before the midterm elections and could bring changes to how the Trump administration will communicate with the public and the media. Leavitt had become one of the president’s most important communications officials, maintaining a very active profile with reporters and earning Trump’s trust.
White House communications director Steven Cheung has described her as irreplaceable, the media wrote. However, there is still no clear favorite for the job. Several administration sources say Trump may wait until after the midterm elections to make a decision, while the possibility of leaving the position temporarily vacant has also been discussed.
In the Republican camp, however, there are rumors that the position should be filled as soon as possible, due to its importance on the eve of the elections. Who are the names being mentioned? Scott Jennings About a dozen names have begun circulating in Trump’s communications and advisory circles.
The White House has described these reports as speculation and has not confirmed whether any of them are actually under consideration. One of the names is Scott Jennings, a former George W. Bush administration official and current CNN commentator. He was previously backed by Donald Trump Jr. for a top communications role, but Jennings himself has not publicly expressed interest in the job.
Instead, he has praised Leavitt as one of the best White House press secretaries in decades. Also on the list is Alina Habba, a former Trump lawyer and advisor who briefly served as an interim federal attorney in New Jersey. She is considered one of the president’s trusted confidants. Another possible candidate is Anna Kelly, the principal deputy press secretary and Leavitt’s number two.
Kelly is already among the officials who represent the White House to the media. Anna Kelly Tricia McLaughlin, known for her role as spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security and for publicly defending Trump’s border policies, is also mentioned as a possibility.
Among the other names is Elizabeth Pipko, a former model and Republican National Committee spokeswoman with close ties to the Trump family. According to a source close to the president, she was considered for the position even before Leavitt took office. Elizabeth Pipko Monica Crowley, a former Fox News analyst and current US chief of protocol, is also among the names being discussed.
She often accompanies the president on trips and hosts foreign leaders in Washington. Another name mentioned is Roma Daravi, who worked in Trump’s press office during his first term and currently directs communications at the Kennedy Center.
Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and former chairwoman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 campaign, has also been mentioned in the race. She currently hosts a weekly show on Fox News.
Lara Trump Other names being discussed include Jason Miller, one of Trump’s early communicators, former deputy press secretary Harrison Fields, and former ESPN anchor Sage Steele, who has become close to the MAGA movement. Even the prediction markets have started to make their assessments.
Kalshi Politics has listed Alina Habba, Anna Kelly, Jason Miller and Roma Daravi among the leading candidates. However, the challenge for Leavitt’s successor will not be ordinary. Trump is not a president who relies solely on his press secretary to communicate with the media.
He often answers reporters himself, speaks directly to them, and maintains contact through phone calls and text messages. This means that the person who will take over from Leavitt will have a special task: to manage the communications of a president who is often his own most powerful spokesman. /Telegraph