Who will replace Karoline Leavitt? Alina Habba, others in contention as White House Press Secretary steps down
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday that she will step down from her role at the end of August, a surprise move that immediately set off speculation over who will take her place behind the White House briefing-room lectern.
Leavitt, 28, had become one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent public-facing aides, regularly defending his policies and using the briefing room to announce administration news. Her departure came as a surprise to many insiders, particularly after she had appeared settled in the role and was viewed by some as a potential press secretary for Trump’s entire second term.
Leavitt said she is leaving to spend more time raising her two young children, Niko, 2, and three-month-old Vivi. She is expected to remain a close adviser to Trump after leaving the post. Trump called her one of his “most trusted aides” and praised her as one of the best White House press secretaries in the history of the office.
Trump has not yet announced a successor. A White House source told the New York Post that the president had not made a decision, leaving several names in contention for one of the administration’s most visible communications positions.
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Alina Habba emerges as a leading contender
Among the early front-runners is Alina Habba, the former acting US attorney for New Jersey and one of Trump’s former lawyers.
Habba became a familiar face to Trump supporters through televised appearances defending the president during his legal battles. She later worked briefly in the West Wing as a counselor before Trump appointed her New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.
Her experience as a Trump surrogate and her comfort speaking publicly could make her a natural fit for the briefing room. A Habba appointment would also resemble Trump’s first-term choice of Kayleigh McEnany, another lawyer who became one of his most prominent television defenders.
Matt Boyle, Steven Cheung also in the mix
Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle is another name attracting attention. Trump knows Boyle personally and has given him interviews, including a recent Oval Office sit-down.
Trump allies reportedly see Boyle as a forceful but steady figure within conservative media, while his years covering Trump and the broader movement have given him extensive familiarity with the administration’s political messaging battles.
Former White House deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel Taylor Budowich and current White House communications director Steven Cheung are also possible choices.
Cheung already handles some duties associated with the press secretary’s job, including regular interactions with journalists, although he has not sought out televised briefings. Budowich, meanwhile, played a major role in the administration’s early communications strategy and helped reshape the White House press operation.
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Katie Miller, Anna Kelly among other possibilities
Katie Miller, who served as Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary during Trump’s first term, is also being discussed. She later worked with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency effort and is married to White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller.
Principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and US chief of protocol Monica Crowley, a former journalist who regularly interacts with Trump, are also among the names circulating.
Longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller has also been mentioned, along with pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings and former Arizona political candidate Kari Lake. Prediction-market speculation has even elevated names such as Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt.
White House could delay permanent replacement
Trump’s decision not to immediately name a successor also leaves open the possibility of a temporary arrangement in which senior administration officials rotate through briefings.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have previously handled White House briefings, while Trump himself has also addressed reporters.
For now, Habba and Boyle are among the most closely watched contenders, but the field remains fluid, according to the New York Post report.