Trump weighs options for Karoline Leavitt replacement
The search continues for Karoline Leavitt’s successor as former White House press secretary Dana Perino joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to analyze potential candidates. Perino also reacts to the Secret Service’s tactical decision to secretly switch President Donald Trump’s planes due to a potential Iranian threat.
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One of the betting favorites to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary declared Wednesday that she is not in the running for the job.
The 28-year-old White House press secretary, fresh off maternity leave, announced earlier this month that she would end her tenure at the podium at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children.
As speculation continued to swirl over whom President Donald Trump would tap to succeed Leavitt, bettors on prediction market platform Kalshi began favoring Alina Habba for the role.
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Alina Habba said she is “not in the running for any job” after Kalshi bettors had favored her to potentially replace outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Habba, who serves as senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys, was previously floated for the position after Trump won re-election.
Bettors on Kalshi gave Habba a 35% chance of being named Leavitt’s replacement at the time before she publicly dismissed the speculation.
Habba, however, threw cold water on that idea.
“Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job,” Habba posted on X.
“However, if I’m getting a new one, I’d love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first,” she continued. “Fake news remains the undefeated champ…well…until I come at them.”
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Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, conducts a press briefing on Monday, March 30, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
When speculation emerged about Habba potentially becoming press secretary following Trump’s 2024 election victory, she said she was “flattered” by the consideration but believed she would “be better served in other capacities.”
Habba went on to serve just over two months as counselor to the president before being appointed interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. After a federal appeals court upheld a ruling that her subsequent service as acting U.S. attorney was unlawful, she resigned from the position and was later named senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys.
Habba also previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and was a high-profile surrogate during his 2024 presidential campaign.
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Alina Habba dismissed speculation that she could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, saying she is “not in the running for any job.” (Getty Images)
Following Habba’s post Wednesday, CNN political commentator Scott Jennings became the new betting favorite on Kalshi, followed by Leavitt’s deputy, Anna Kelly.
Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush, was also reportedly considered for the press secretary role after Trump won the 2024 election before Leavitt was ultimately selected.
Trump has touted Jennings’ recent book and referred to him as a “patriot” who “gets it.”
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CNN political commentator Scott Jennings became the betting favorite on Kalshi to succeed Karoline Leavitt after Alina Habba said she was not pursuing the job. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images Courtesy of the Rainey Center)
“The next press secretary will undoubtedly be someone who has a strong existing relationship with President Trump,” former White House press secretary Sean Spicer previously told Digital.
Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.
