Key facts
- Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as press secretary at the end of the month.
- Leavitt will continue to serve as an outside adviser to Trump.
- The White House is initiating a search for a new press secretary.
- Potential candidates mentioned include Monica Crowley, Scott Jennings, Jason Miller, Alina Habba, Anna Kelly, and Katie Miller.
The White House has initiated a search for a new press secretary following the announcement that Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of the month. Leavitt, who has served for a year and a half, will transition to an outside advisory role. Her departure is described as unplanned, highlighting the importance of the position for President Trump.
Several individuals have been suggested as potential replacements. Monica Crowley, Trump’s chief of protocol and a media personality, is one name that has surfaced. CNN commentator Scott Jennings, former Trump campaign spokesperson Jason Miller, and former Trump counsel Alina Habba have also been mentioned. Additionally, Leavitt's deputy, Anna Kelly, who has a significant role in the press shop and has made network appearances, is considered a possibility. Katie Miller, a former administration official and wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, has also been floated, though one source close to the White House dismissed this possibility.
Sources close to the administration indicate that a thorough search is likely, considering candidates from television, the administration, and the president's inner circle. The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding a chosen successor or temporary arrangements for the role.