President Donald Trump has not yet selected a replacement for departing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, but Alina Habba and Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle are among several names emerging as possible successors ahead of her departure at the end of August.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump has not decided who will become his next White House press secretary following Karoline Leavitt’s announcement that she will leave the post at the end of August, setting off speculation over who will assume one of the administration’s most public-facing roles.
A White House source told the New York Post Wednesday that no successor has been chosen.
Among the names receiving early attention are Alina Habba, a longtime Trump attorney and former interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle, according to sources inside and close to the administration.
Leavitt, 28, announced Wednesday that she plans to step away after recently returning from maternity leave. She said she wants to devote more time to raising her two young children.
Although she is leaving her official White House position, Leavitt is expected to continue advising Trump from outside the administration.
Habba enters the succession discussion with a long history as one of Trump’s most visible legal defenders.
She gained national attention while representing Trump in several legal matters, repeatedly appearing on television to defend him before his return to the White House.
After Trump began his second term, Habba briefly worked as counselor to the president before being appointed interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
Her tenure later became the subject of litigation, and a federal appeals court ruled that she had remained in the position unlawfully after her interim appointment expired. Habba subsequently resigned.
Selecting Habba would also carry a historical parallel to Trump’s first administration.
Trump previously elevated another attorney, Kayleigh McEnany, to serve as his final White House press secretary during his first term.
Boyle is also being discussed as a potential choice, particularly among Trump allies familiar with his work in conservative media.
The Breitbart journalist has developed relationships with members of Trump’s political circle and has interviewed the president numerous times, including during a recent Oval Office interview.
Supporters of Boyle within Trump’s orbit view his media experience and familiarity with the administration as potential advantages for the job.
Leavitt’s departure surprised some White House officials, but the approximately 19 months she will have spent in the position is not unusually short by modern standards.
She became press secretary in January 2025 at the beginning of Trump’s second administration.
Her tenure will closely resemble that of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served for just under two years during Trump’s first presidency.
Leavitt will have remained in the position longer than Jen Psaki, who served approximately 16 months as President Joe Biden’s first press secretary.
She will also have exceeded the tenures of Sean Spicer, Stephanie Grisham and McEnany, each of whom served for less than one year as Trump’s press secretary during his first term.
Leavitt’s time in the position will fall short of that of Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as Biden’s press secretary for approximately two years and eight months.
During President Barack Obama’s administration, Robert Gibbs remained in the job for slightly more than two years, Jay Carney served more than three years and Josh Earnest held the position for approximately two and a half years.
Leavitt had appeared capable of remaining in the role longer. Journalists and administration officials had generally viewed her as an effective public advocate for Trump, making her departure less expected inside Washington political circles.
Several current and former Trump administration officials are also being discussed as possible replacements.
Former White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich is among them.
Budowich was involved in developing the administration’s early communications strategy and played a major role in last year’s restructuring of the White House press pool before leaving government for the private sector.
Current White House communications director Steven Cheung is another possible candidate.
Cheung already carries out some responsibilities associated with the press secretary position, including meeting with reporters, distributing information and attempting to shape news coverage.
He has generally stayed away from the daily on-camera briefing role, however, including during Leavitt’s recent maternity leave.
Principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly is also being mentioned, along with U.S. chief of protocol Monica Crowley.
Crowley, a former journalist and television commentator, has regular interactions with Trump and has extensive experience in political communications.
Katie Miller, who previously worked with Elon Musk at the Department of Government Efficiency and is married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, has also emerged in speculation surrounding the vacancy.
Outside the administration, several other Trump allies and conservative media figures have been mentioned.
Longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller, commentator Scott Jennings and former Arizona political candidate Kari Lake are among the names being discussed.
Prediction market Kalshi also saw increased activity surrounding Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy and television personality Spencer Pratt following news of Leavitt’s departure, although both would represent less conventional choices for the position.
The speculation reflects the unusually broad range of people who could potentially fill the role, from current White House communications officials and former administration aides to attorneys and conservative media personalities.
Trump himself has frequently served as his own chief messenger, regularly speaking directly with reporters and holding extended exchanges with the press.
Other senior administration officials have also appeared in the White House briefing room.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have each led briefings, while Trump has also addressed reporters directly from the podium.
The president praised Leavitt while announcing her departure, calling her one of his “most trusted aides” and “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”
Leavitt made history when Trump returned to office by becoming the youngest White House press secretary.
Her transition to an outside advisory role means she is expected to remain within Trump’s political orbit even after leaving the West Wing.
With less than three weeks remaining before her scheduled departure, attention is now turning to whether Trump will choose someone already working inside his communications operation or bring in a familiar outside ally to become the administration’s next public spokesman.
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