The White House press office is entering a transition after Karoline Leavitt announced her departure, and a short list of potential successors—ranging from seasoned Trump allies to conservative media figures and current communications staff—has already surfaced as the administration weighs who can carry the message forward.
Karoline Leavitt’s exit marks another turnover at a high-profile White House job, and that’s normal for these roles. They burn hot and fast, and Republicans know the need for a confident communicator who can defend the agenda without apologizing. The press secretary spot needs someone who understands the president’s tone and can keep pushing forward in a hostile media environment.
Names being floated include familiar Trump defenders and conservative operatives who have experience in public messaging. Several of the contenders are attorneys or former aides who cut their teeth defending Trump in the media and courtroom alike. Those credentials matter in this moment because the White House needs someone who can both argue policy and withstand constant scrutiny.
The list also includes in-house talent who already handle parts of the job and could step up without missing a beat. That continuity appeals to an administration that values loyalty and directness. Promoting from within would keep a consistent message and avoid a learning curve during an important stretch of the term.
Sources within and close to the administration told The Post that early front-runners for the role are believed to include Alina Habba, the former acting US attorney for New Jersey, and Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle.
Habba gained fame as one of Trump’s defense lawyers, giving passionate televised appeals on his behalf to journalists before his return to power. She briefly worked in the West Wing last year as a counselor to the president before Trump appointed her the top prosecutor in New Jersey.
In addition to having significant experience as a Trump spokesperson and a polished look, her selection would follow Trump’s first-term pick of another attorney, Kayleigh McEnany, as press secretary. McEnany was regarded as successful in defending Trump and presenting his policies.
Boyle, meanwhile, is a favorite among well-connected Trump allies who recognize the dogged Breitbart scribe’s fiery but steady presence in the conservative media ecosystem.
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Other contenders could include former White House deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel Taylor Budowich, who departed that role last September to return to the private sector, and current White House communications director Steven Cheung.
Budowich aided early-term messaging strategy and was the force behind a shake-up last year in the White House press pool, which increased the number of outlets able to attend smaller events with the president, such as in the Oval Office, while overriding decades-old deference to the press corps.
Cheung already serves some of the functions of the role, including regularly meeting with journalists to provide information and shape coverage. But he has not sought out opportunities to brief reporters on camera, including during Leavitt’s recent maternity leave.
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Also subject to heavy speculation are Katie Miller, a former aide to Elon Musk at DOGE and the wife of deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, as well as principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and US chief of protocol Monica Crowley, a former journalist who regularly interacts with the president.
Alina Habba’s rise from defense lawyer to a West Wing counselor and then acting US attorney makes her a credible candidate for those who want a sharp, legal-minded spokesperson. She proved she can argue a case on television and hold her ground against hostile questioning. That kind of toughness appeals to a base that expects unapologetic advocacy.
https://x.com/SteveGuest/status/2087737028456694158
Matthew Boyle brings a different profile as a conservative journalist and Breitbart figure who has the ear of grassroots conservatives. A press secretary who understands conservative media rhythms and can speak directly to that audience has strategic value. Media savvy plus a hard-nosed approach to narratives could reshape day-to-day coverage.
Taylor Budowich and Steven Cheung represent the low-risk, continuity route—staffers who already know the rhythms of the White House press shop. Budowich has experience reorganizing access and managing pool dynamics to the administration’s benefit. Cheung handles many press functions now and could expand that role if the White House prefers a steady hand.
Other names circulating include veterans like Katie Miller, Anna Kelly, and Monica Crowley, each bringing different strengths from media experience to protocol and messaging. Any pick will be weighed for how well they defend policy, who they can rally in the press corps, and how they perform on camera. That balance between poise and partisan toughness will determine the front-runner.
There’s also the fun chatter — figures such as Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, or even the president stepping into the role as a stunt — but those possibilities aren’t practical. Senior cabinet members and the president himself are already occupied, and appointing someone with the day-to-day bandwidth matters. The real contenders are those with messaging chops and the stomach for the job.
Expect this to be decided quickly. The administration needs a clear, disciplined voice going into the next phases of the calendar, and loyal, effective communication will be a front-line priority. Whoever steps up will have to manage the press and energize supporters without second-guessing the core direction of the White House.
So, there are your names. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and President Trump have all briefed the press. Trump taking the role would be insanely entertaining, but these are fun options. They’re not serious, of course — these guys have enough on their plates, especially Rubio.
Scott Jennings?
