WASHINGTON (TNND) — With White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt preparing to leave the Trump administration at the end of August, attention is turning to who President Donald Trump could choose to replace one of the most visible members of his administration.
WATCH: Our newest explainer breaks down Leavitt’s White House tenure and the names being considered to replace her.
Leavitt, 28, announced this month that she would step down to spend more time with her two young children and family. Trump said she will remain in his political orbit as an outside adviser and an influential Republican voice.
Leavitt made history when she took over the White House briefing room at 27, becoming the youngest press secretary in U.S. history.
During her tenure, she became known for aggressively defending Trump and frequently clashing with reporters during televised briefings.
Watch the newest explainer video in the player below for a closer look at Leavitt’s time behind the podium and the names emerging as possible replacements.
The White House has not announced a successor, but several names have surfaced as speculation grows over who could take over the job.
CNN contributor Scott Jennings has emerged as an early favorite, multiple sources familiar with the process told CNN. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles recently met with Jennings at the request of the White House, though sources cautioned that the selection process remains far from complete.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: Scott Jennings attends the “A Revolution of Common Sense” Book Launch at the Rainey Center on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images Courtesy of the Rainey Center)
Jennings, a veteran Republican political strategist and former adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell, has become a prominent conservative voice on CNN, where his exchanges with other panelists frequently gain attention online.
Another potential choice is Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, who already works inside the White House press operation and would offer the administration a more straightforward transition.
Anna Kelly, White House principal deputy press secretary (Image: X/twitter)
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung has also been discussed as a possibility. Cheung has worked closely with Trump for years and is one of the administration’s most prominent communications officials, though becoming press secretary would put him in a far more regular public-facing role.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Steven Cheung, spokesman for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, watches as Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on September 06, 2024 in New York City. Trump held a press conference hours after attending a federal appeals court attempting to get a new trial after a jury found he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll. A nine-member jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages following a two-week trial last year and another jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages after finding Trump defamed her again in 2022. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba had also generated speculation as a potential contender, but she pushed back on those reports this week, saying she is “not in the running for any job.”
Other Trump allies and communications figures have been floated publicly as Washington waits for the president’s decision.
Whoever ultimately gets the job would inherit a briefing room that changed significantly during Leavitt’s tenure.
FILE – Alina Habba, President Donald Trump’s pick to be the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, speaks with reporters outside the White House, March 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
From her first briefing in January 2025, Leavitt emphasized giving greater access to newer and nontraditional media organizations. The White House also asserted greater control over participation in the presidential press pool, prompting both support from those seeking broader media representation and criticism from traditional news organizations.
Leavitt’s exchanges with reporters also routinely became news themselves, with confrontations over tariffs, immigration, presidential policy and media coverage spreading rapidly across social media.
Her departure comes after the birth of her second child in May and her return from maternity leave. She became the first White House press secretary to give birth while serving in the position.
Trump has praised Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said she will continue advising him after leaving the White House.
For now, the race to replace her remains unsettled.
The White House has not announced a final choice, and despite the growing speculation surrounding Jennings and other potential candidates, the decision ultimately rests with Trump.
Whoever takes the podium next will inherit not only one of Washington’s most visible jobs, but a White House communications operation increasingly built around television, social media and rapid responses to the president’s critics.