Who could replace Karoline Leavitt? Meet frontrunners for Trump's Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt will step down as White House Press Secretary at the end of August. Her departure has now opened the door to a crowded field of possible successors.

In Short

• Karoline Leavitt to leave White House Press Secretary post end August
• Alina Habba, Matthew Boyle, Scott Jennings among top contenders
• Internal officials like Steven Cheung also considered for role

The race to replace Karoline Leavitt had begun almost as soon as the White House Press Secretary announced her surprise departure. She, 28, said she would leave the role at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children.

At 27, she had become one of President Donald Trump's most trusted aides and the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. She became one of the most visible defenders of Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda. Trump praised her as "one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the history of the office." He confirmed that Leavitt will remain involved with the administration as an outside communications adviser and continue working with him.

Leavitt is leaving at a critical moment for the Trump administration. The US President is under immense pressure over the prolonged war with Iran. The midterm elections in November are a litmus test of his administration's standing with Americans.

Her exit leaves the US President without one of his most prominent and trusted loyalists as Republicans prepare for the mid-term elections. Leavitt's departure has now opened the door to a crowded field of possible successors. However, Trump has not yet made a decision on her replacement, which has also surprised many. Nevertheless, several names are already being discussed inside and around the administration.

ALINA HABBA AMONG EARLY CONTENDERS

Alina Habba is one of the names being closely watched.

The former acting US attorney for New Jersey first became popular as one of Trump's defence lawyers. She frequently appeared on television to defend Trump during his legal battles.

Her public profile and experience speaking on Trump's behalf could make her a natural fit for the briefing room. She also briefly worked in the West Wing as a counsellor to Trump before becoming the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.

If chosen, Habba would follow in the footsteps of Kayleigh McEnany, another lawyer who served as Trump's Press Secretary during his first term.

MATTHEW BOYLE IS ALSO A CONTENDER

Matthew Boyle, Washington bureau chief for Breitbart, is another name reportedly being considered. According to the New York Post, Boyle is viewed favourably by several well-connected Trump allies. He has closely covered Trump and the extensively conservative movement for years.

Trump knows Boyle and has granted him multiple interviews. That includes a recent interview in the Oval Office.

His experience in investigative journalism and his familiarity with Trump's political base could give him an advantage if the White House wants an outsider with strong media instincts.

SCOTT JENNINGS IS A SURPRISE CONTENDER

MAGA commentator Scott Jennings has also emerged as a potential contender. According to The Daily Beast, Jennings is currently considered a frontrunner. Jennings is a familiar face on CNN, where he frequently defends Trump and his policies. He also has experience inside the White House. He served during George W. Bush's administration as a special assistant to the president and deputy director of political affairs.

He later worked as an adviser to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and was involved in several of McConnell's re-election campaigns.

When asked on CNN whether he was interested in replacing Leavitt, Jennings did not give a direct answer. Instead, he praised her performance.

"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. I don't know a single Republican in the country who isn't in awe of and in appreciation of Karoline tonight. So Godspeed on your journey back to your family. You've done great stuff," Jennings said.

WHITE HOUSE INSIDERS ALSO BEING CONSIDERED

The search is not limited to media personalities. White House communications director Steven Cheung is also being discussed. Cheung already performs some duties associated with the Press Secretary's job. He regularly speaks with journalists and provides information to shape coverage. However, he has generally avoided taking Leavitt's place in front of television cameras.

Taylor Budowich is another possibility. He previously served as Trump's deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel before returning to the private sector. Budowich played a big role in the administration's early messaging strategy. He was also behind changes to the White House press pool that expanded access for smaller outlets and newer forms of media.

Principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly is another name in circulation. Kelly previously served as national press secretary for the Republican National Committee.

OTHER PROMINENT NAMES IN THE RACE

Katie Miller is also attracting attention. She previously worked at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and is married to White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller. She hosts a podcast that features senior officials. Her husband was asked about her potential candidacy after a television appearance on Wednesday.

He smiled but declined to answer questions.

Former journalist Monica Crowley, who serves as US chief of protocol, has also been mentioned. Former Arizona political candidate Kari Lake is another possibility.

Lake previously oversaw efforts involving Voice of America while leading the federal agency responsible for US-funded media.

Beyond these names, several other contenders were being discussed. These include Roma Daravi, Lara Trump and Natalie Harp.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Leavitt joined Trump's 2024 campaign before becoming his transition spokeswoman. Trump later selected her as Press Secretary, making her the youngest person ever to hold the position. During her tenure, Leavitt and communications director Cheung helped reshape the White House's relationship with the media. The administration expanded access for podcasts, newsletters and newer digital outlets. It also moved away from the traditional press-pool system controlled by the White House Correspondents' Association.

Trump has not yet announced who will take over.

That leaves open another possibility. Senior administration officials could handle briefings on a temporary or rotating basis. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have previously led White House briefings. Trump himself has also stepped behind the lectern.

The White House now has to choose a new public face for the administration ahead of the November midterm elections.

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With inputs from agencies