Trump loyalists block Scott Jennings, McConnell ally, from press secretary role
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Scott Jennings, a former aide to establishment Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, is reportedly being considered to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. However, hardline Trump allies are resisting his nomination due to Jennings’ past criticism of Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection and his defense of McConnell.
Scott Jennings, a 48-year-old political commentator and longtime associate of Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, is reportedly in discussions with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles about potentially becoming the next press secretary, following Karoline Leavitt. Yet, sources close to the administration have cast doubt on Jennings’ chances, as Trump’s inner circle appears unwilling to accept anyone who has dared to criticize the former president’s anti-democratic actions.
The opposition to Jennings is rooted in his willingness to speak truth to power after the January 6 Capitol riot, when he authored a CNN op-ed holding Trump accountable for spreading dangerous lies about the 2020 election—lies that fueled the violent attack on democracy. Jennings also stood by McConnell, one of the few Republicans to occasionally challenge Trump, when the senator faced questions about his health and leadership earlier this year.
“It’s not going to be him,” a source familiar with the administration told the New York Post, reflecting the ongoing purge of dissenting voices from Trump’s orbit.
A senior White House official, seeking to downplay the controversy, claimed there are no predetermined candidates and called the process “an open book.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Trump is hesitant to let go of Leavitt, further stalling any move toward a more independent or principled press secretary.