Trump administration weighs options to replace departing White House press secretary

President Donald Trump said press secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of the month to spend more time with her young family, leaving the White House with less than three months before the midterm elections. The announcement has sparked speculation within the administration and among Republican strategists about who could assume the role.

White House communications director Steven Cheung told CNN that Leavitt was "one of one" and that her performance was unmatched. A senior White House source said it was unclear whether Trump would name a replacement before the elections, and some observers suggested the position might remain vacant for the remainder of his term.

CNN identified roughly a dozen names being discussed, including current and former Trump staffers, cable-news personalities, and a member of the Trump family. Among the candidates mentioned were Scott Jennings, a former Bush administration official and CNN contributor; Alina Habba, a former Trump adviser and acting U.S. attorney; principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly; former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin; and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law. Other possible contenders cited were longtime communicator Jason Miller, former deputy press secretary Harrison Fields, and former ESPN anchor Sage Steele.

Prediction-market data from Kalshi Politics placed Habba, Kelly, Miller and Roma Daravi at the top of its list. Republican strategist Erin Maguire warned that candidates who appear overly eager could be rejected by the president, noting that Trump typically prefers a small pool of trusted insiders.

Leavitt’s departure was reportedly unexpected, and staffers noted that she had not cultivated a clear succession pipeline. In the interim, officials indicated the administration might revert to using senior figures such as Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deliver briefings.

"She is one of one. Nobody will ever be able to do what she did," Cheung said in a text message.

"I don’t see an instance where someone from outside the orbit comes in. That’s the biggest hurdle — it’s a small pool of people qualified and enough in the orbit to be considered," Maguire said.

"Everything is viewed through the eyes of ‘central casting.’ I don’t think he cares who can actually do the job. I think it’s about what he or she looks like," a source close to the president said.

The eventual appointee will need to earn Trump’s trust and be prepared for the rapid-fire nature of White House briefings, according to sources familiar with the selection process.