Donald Trump appears in no hurry to choose Karoline Leavitt’s successor, even as potential replacements circle the job. Behind the scenes, Trump allies are already lobbying for their favorite press secretary candidates. Meanwhile, the White House weighs whether it needs a permanent replacement at all.
Sources reveal how Donald Trump is still looking for a replacement
Karoline Leavitt plans to leave the press secretary position at the end of August, but Donald Trump has yet to settle on who should take over. One senior White House official told CNN that the president “genuinely doesn’t know who to pick” and has shown “zero urgency” about making the call.
That hesitation has done little to stop the political scramble. People familiar with the conversations told CNN that some prospective candidates have approached junior White House staffers, hoping they will recommend them. Others have taken their pitches straight to Trump, including supporters of Elizabeth Pipko. Pipko is a former model and Republican National Committee spokesperson who previously received consideration for the role.
The potential field already stretches across Trump’s political orbit. Alina Habba, former George W. Bush aide Scott Jennings, White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, and former Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin are among the names being discussed. Yet Trump has offered no clear public signal about what he wants in his next press secretary.
There is also a bigger question hanging over the vacancy: Does Trump even need to fill it? He frequently acts as his own communicator through Truth Social posts and quick interviews. Meanwhile, formal briefings have remained irregular during his second term. During Leavitt’s maternity leave, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Medicare and Medicaid chief Dr. Mehmet Oz stepped behind the briefing podium.
Semafor first reported that the White House was considering bringing Cabinet officials back for briefings after Leavitt’s exit. This will potentially leave the administration with a rotating lineup rather than an immediate permanent replacement.
For anyone eyeing the job, the prospect comes with a steep price tag. One person familiar with private discussions described it as “an insane job” and “a thankless job,” adding that Leavitt’s successor would face constant comparisons with her.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
