Leavitt set to leave, speculation swirls over her replacement

President Donald Trump announced that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her role at the end of August 2026. Leavitt, who assumed the position at the beginning of the president's second term, became the youngest person to ever hold the job. Trump shared the departure news in a post on Truth Social, stating that Leavitt is leaving to focus on her family and her two young children, whom she welcomed in May. Trump added that she will remain one of his top advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party. Leavitt also posted on X, describing her decision to focus on her children as bittersweet and vowing to remain a vocal advocate for the MAGA movement and the Republican Party.

The White House has not yet announced a successor. When asked about potential candidates, the administration directed inquiries to the posts made by Trump and Leavitt, and officials have told multiple outlets that no final decision has been made. Insiders close to the administration have noted that the search is important and that Time remains before a formal choice is finalized. The departure has triggered immediate speculation across Washington regarding who will step up to the podium.

Media additions

Potential Contenders for Press Secretary

• Alina Habba – Trump's former personal lawyer and defense counsel during his 2024 hush-money trial. According to the New York Post, sources within and close to the administration cite her as an early frontrunner. After the election, Trump named Habba presidential counselor and later sought to install her as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, though she ultimately stepped down from that post in December after a federal court found her appointment unlawful, later moving to a role as senior advisor to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.
• Scott Jennings – A CNN political commentator and conservative writer. Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Daily Beast that Jennings is a leading contender for the role. Trump has publicly praised Jennings, noting his frequent television defenses of the president.
• Anna Kelly – Serving as the principal deputy press secretary under Leavitt, Kelly is an internal candidate from the current White House communications team. She previously worked as the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee.
• Katie Miller – A conservative podcaster, former administration official, and the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. While her name appears on various lists, one source close to the White House dismissed the possibility bluntly as not happening.
• Matthew Boyle – The Washington bureau chief for Breitbart. Sources told the New York Post that Boyle is also in the running, having previously conducted multiple interviews with Trump, including an Oval Office sit-down in June.
• Steven Cheung – The current White House communications director. As a longtime loyal Trump aide who led communications for the 2024 campaign, Cheung is viewed as a possible internal promotion if the administration looks inward.
• Taylor Budowich – A former White House deputy chief of staff who oversaw communications and cabinet affairs before departing for the private sector.
• Jason Miller – A longtime trusted campaign spokesperson and aide who rejoined the White House over the summer to work on messaging.
• Roma Daravi – A former deputy communications director from Trump's first term who currently serves as vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center.
• Kari Lake – The former television news anchor and political figure. While mentioned in speculation and betting markets, Trump nominated Lake to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, a role requiring Senate confirmation that would preclude her from taking the press secretary position.
• Monica Crowley – The chief of protocol and veteran conservative media personality, suggested by a source close to the administration.

The Demands of the Podium and Off-Camera Press Relations

Observers note that while many allies possess the telegenic qualities and television combativeness required to defend Trump on air, the incoming press secretary will also face the less visible challenge of replicating Leavitt's off-camera work. According to administration sources, Leavitt mastered the ability to act as an effective spokesperson while simultaneously engaging substantively with reporters behind the scenes to ensure the administration's message was properly woven into their reporting.

Leavitt's tenure also transformed the mechanics of the press briefing room. At her first briefing in January 2025, she announced that seats would be opened to new media, and the administration began deciding which news organizations received coveted slots in the presidential press pool rather than leaving selections to the White House Correspondents' Association. The incoming press secretary will inherit these procedural changes alongside questions regarding whether the administration will maintain a regular cadence of briefings, given Trump's tendency to serve as his own chief spokesperson through direct exchanges with reporters.

The White House has not stated whether cabinet secretaries might fill in temporarily during the transition, as occurred during Leavitt's recent maternity leave. A formal announcement regarding Leavitt's replacement is anticipated before the end of August 2026.