White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's Departure Sparks Succession Speculation

The departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will create a major opening in President Donald Trump's administration, and the guessing-game of who will replace her has already begun. So far, the White House has not announced who will succeed Leavitt, and sources within and close to the administration said no decision has yet been made. Leavitt has worked closely with Trump for years, and finding someone to take over could prove difficult. In announcing she would step down at the end of the month, Trump called Leavitt one of his "most trusted aides". When Leavitt was on leave earlier this year, a series of high-ranking figures, including Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gave press briefings, instead of a temporary substitute from her office. Some expect the White House to return to that system, at least temporarily. But the complex job goes beyond the briefing room podium to include managing contentious relationships with the press, coordinating with other parts of the White House, and providing media advice to the president. The secretary also oversees an office that receives a significant amount of inquiries and requests on a daily basis. Perhaps most importantly, Leavitt's replacement will also be expected to live up to Trump's expectations. "It's not easy," a source close to the administration told the BBC. "That person will be very aware that he's watching every day." Here's a look at a few of the potential candidates for the job. Alina Habba was formerly President Trump's personal lawyer. In December, she resigned as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, after a court battle over her eligibility to serve as US attorney for the state. Trump selected Habba for the role of US attorney last year. When a district court rejected her nomination, Trump then installed her in a role allowing her to fill in on an acting basis. During Trump's first few months back at the White House, Habba served as the president's counsellor. In announcing her appointment, Trump described Habba as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a "tireless advocate for justice". Habba, 42, first joined Trump's personal legal team in 2021 after reportedly meeting him at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. She went on to represent Trump in his hush-money trial in New York in 2024, when he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump has filed an appeal against that conviction. Political commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as a fierce defender of the Trump administration on CNN, where he is a senior political contributor, earning him widespread praise from many of the president's supporters. Once a critic of Trump, 48-year-old Jennings also has considerable experience in politics, having worked on four presidential campaigns. He also worked on three of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell's campaigns, and is considered a close ally of the former party leader. Trump has publicly praised Jennings, who last year published the book A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization. "He's defending me all the time on CNN," Trump said at a rally in Michigan last year. "And he defends me really well, but he can't go too far because if he goes too far, he'll get fired."