Alina Habba says she is not being considered for White House press secretary role

Alina Habba, a senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys, posted on X on Wednesday that she is not a candidate to succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. The 28-year-old had been a leading name on the Kalshi prediction market, which had given her a 35% chance of being appointed, but she said she was "flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I'm not in the running for any job."

Leavitt, who announced she will leave the podium at the end of August to focus on her two young children, has been the subject of ongoing speculation about her successor. After Habba’s statement, Kalshi’s odds moved to former CNN political commentator Scott Jennings, who now leads the market’s betting, followed by Leavitt’s deputy Anna Kelly.

Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush, was also mentioned as a possible pick after President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election. Trump has praised Jennings, calling him a "patriot" who "gets it." Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the next press secretary would likely have a strong existing relationship with the president. Fox News Digital has requested comment from the White House.