The shock over the news that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving the administration has already given way to speculation on who will replace her.
On Wednesday, the 28-year-old new mom revealed that she’s permanently departing the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the end of August, relinquishing the podium to a yet-to-be-named successor.
President Donald J. Trump announced the news in a post to Truth Social, writing that Leavitt will be “departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with their beautiful young children and family.”
Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for granting me so many extraordinary opportunities, such as working in the West Wing and spending countless hours… https://t.co/4jyW61DGGh pic.twitter.com/xny1yccuBn
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) August 12, 2026
“Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least. The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” Leavitt wrote on X.
Leavitt did a such a wonderful job in conducting the daily press briefings as the president’s top spox despite having to deal with a hostile gaggle of so-called reporters that she leaves big shoes to fill, and scant time to find a capable replacement who will immediately need to step up in what will be a tumultuous period with the Iran war dragging on, the midterm elections and the possibility of a blizzard of Democrat investigations if the party wins back the House in November.
The administration could possibly use a rotating series of officials as it did during Leavitt’s maternity leave when Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio manned the podium, or it could turn to one of several familiar names who are loyal to the president.
“The next press secretary will undoubtedly be someone who has a strong existing relationship with President Trump,” former press secretary Sean Spicer, who held the job during Trump’s first term, told Fox News Digital.
“He values and understands the importance of this role in communicating his positions on policy, personnel and key issues, so I can’t imagine it not being someone currently in his orbit,” the former White House spox added.
Among those whose names are being mentioned are Alina Habba, the president’s former defense attorney and acting U.S. attorney who currently serves as senior advisor to the attorney general for U.S. Attorneys. Habba would meet the criteria that Spicer mentioned, is battle-tested from her time in court, and was in the running for the job before Leavitt was picked.
Another name that’s being mentioned is CNN commentator and MAGA hero Scott Jennings, a veteran of the George W. Bush administration who also reportedly was considered for the press secretary’s job for Trump’s second term.
Jennings was evasive when asked by his CNN colleagues about the possibility, instead praising Leavitt, but not ruling it out.
Scott Jennings is asked if he would like be the next White House Press Secretary. pic.twitter.com/kssEcKNGyl
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 13, 2026
“Democrats are afraid of Scott Jennings becoming press secretary. There you go. Now you’ve got the job,” panelist Bakari Sellers told Jennings on Wednesday’s edition of “CNN NewsNight” during a discussion about the stunning news.
“I don’t know,” Jennings responded. “But I’ll tell you this: Karoline Leavitt has been maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least. She’s been nothing short of brilliant.”
The social media buzz also includes others such as the president’s senior advisor Stephen Miller, and his wife, Katie Miller, White House communications director Stephen Cheung, and Anna Kelly, who is currently serving as principal deputy press secretary.
“Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office,” Trump said, making her a tough act to follow.
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