Full Breakdown
White House Press Secretary Vacancy Fuels Internal Contest Over Successor
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The White House has been without a press secretary since Karoline Leavitt left the podium on August 27, marking the longest such vacancy in modern U.S. history. President Donald Trump’s aides are reportedly divided over who should fill the role. Scott Jennings, a 48-year-old former CNN commentator and longtime Trump supporter, emerged as an early favorite after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with him. At the same time, other staffers have pushed to keep the job inside the existing communications team, seeking to block Jennings’ appointment.
Background & Context
Leavitt, who became the youngest White House press secretary when the second Trump administration began, stepped down at the end of August to spend more time with her family. During her tenure, she described the briefing room as having “a performative aspect” and noted that reporters often apologized for “unfair” questions after briefings.
The vacancy coincides with a period of heightened media tension. In September, Trump banned three outlets—MS NOW, CNN, and Politico—from the White House, a move a judge temporarily blocked, restoring their access. The ban and the sparse briefing schedule have intensified scrutiny of the press-secretary role.
Key Figures & Groups
- Scott Jennings — 48-year-old former CNN pundit and Trump loyalist, touted as a potential press secretary.
- Karoline Leavitt — Former press secretary, now a top outside advisor to the president.
- Susie Wiles — White House chief of staff who met with Jennings early in the selection process.
- Danielle Alvarez — Former Trump campaign spokesperson, currently involved in succession discussions.
- Jason Miller — Longtime Trump advisor, also participating in the decision-making process.
Timeline
- August 27 – Leavitt’s final press briefing; the press-secretary podium becomes vacant.
Official Statements & Responses
Leavitt, speaking on a podcast, explained that journalists sometimes feel compelled to ask “unfair” questions because their editors demand them, underscoring the “performative aspect” of briefings.
Scott Jennings, while commenting on the recent media ban, called the decision a “miss,” arguing that legal judgments should be followed “immediately” and that the president’s failure to do so reduced coverage of high-profile events such as the Chinese leader’s White House dinner.
Criticism & Opposition
Sources familiar with internal deliberations say that several senior staff members oppose Jennings, preferring a candidate already embedded within the communications office. They argue that Jennings’ confrontational style—exemplified by a heated exchange with a media activist in April—could exacerbate the administration’s strained relationship with the press.
Former campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez and advisor Jason Miller have stepped in to advise the president while the succession decision remains pending. According to sources, Trump appears comfortable making media-related decisions unilaterally, sometimes bypassing the usual internal review process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Scott, was this smart of the president?” — Anderson Cooper
- “There’s a performative aspect to the briefing room,” — Karoline Leavitt, the president
- “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect,” — Donald Trump, president
