President Donald Trump insisted Friday that a lot of people are interested in taking over as White House Press Secretary, and noted that outgoing Karoline Leavitt made the job look “very glamorous.”
The president speculated about various people who could replace Leavitt, including longtime Trump staffer Margo Martin and CNN commentator Scott Jennings as he boarded Air Force One Friday for a campaign stop in South Carolina with Senator Darline Graham.
“I have never had so many job applications in my life,” Trump said. “They all want that job. They love that job.”
“She’s made that job very glamorous,” Trump added, referring to Leavitt.
Leavitt, 28, said she is leaving her job at the White House at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. She told reporters Friday she will join MAGA Inc., the super PAC that supports the president, and also become one of Trump’s top outside advisers.
Leavitt worked for MAGA Inc. before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign team.
She said she would return to the super PAC in September for the Republican midterm convention. However, she did not elaborate on what her new role will be.
Trump was reportedly caught off-guard when Leavitt resigned earlier this month.
In a Truth Social post, the president announced Leavitt would leave to spend more time with her family. Leavitt has two young children, a two-year-old son and a three-month-old daughter.
The president is taking his time to name a replacement in part because of the suddenness of Leavitt’s resignation but also because she has a very close relationship to the president and her absence will be difficult to fill, a White House official previously told The Independent.
But that hasn’t stopped members of the media, and the president himself, from speculating about a new press secretary.
Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, has been floated as a possibility. Alina Habba, the president’s former personal lawyer, was suggested - but she shut down rumors in an X post. Anna Kelly, the deputy press secretary, is also a potential contender.
When asked about replacements Friday afternoon, Trump told reporters that he thought Jennings “is good” but also “Maybe Margo,” referring to Martin.
“What do you think of Margo? Maybe Margo,” Trump said.
It’s common for presidents to have more than one press secretary during their term because the job required round-the-clock focus and gets constant pushback from the public and members of the media.
During Trump’s first term, four people served as White House Press Secretary – Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.
