WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has not yet named a successor to Karoline Leavitt, who is set to step down as White House press secretary at the end of August 2026 to spend more time with her young family.
As speculation grows over who could take over one of the administration’s most visible communications roles, several names have emerged as potential contenders.
Leavitt, 28, the youngest person to hold the position, will continue as a top outside adviser and influential Republican voice ahead of the midterm elections. In the absence of an official pick, a range of names from inside the administration and Trump’s broader political orbit have emerged in reporting from sources close to the White House.
The most frequently cited early contenders, according to sources within and close to the administration who spoke to the New York Post, include Alina Habba, Matthew Boyle, Taylor Budowich, and Steven Cheung.
Other names circulating in coverage and discussion encompass principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, Katie Miller, Monica Crowley, Scott Jennings, Kari Lake, and Jason Miller, along with additional figures from the White House communications team and conservative media.
Early Contenders from Administration Sources
Sources told the New York Post that Trump has not decided on a replacement. Among those identified as early front-runners are Alina Habba, the former acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey and one of Trump’s former defense lawyers who previously served briefly as a White House counselor; Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle; former White House deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel Taylor Budowich; and current White House communications director Steven Cheung.
These individuals have histories of close work with Trump or prominent roles in conservative media and messaging.
Internal Options and Other Names in Discussion
Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has been mentioned as a possible internal successor who could provide continuity. Katie Miller, a former press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence who later worked with the Department of Government Efficiency and is married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, is also among those discussed.
U.S. chief of protocol Monica Crowley, a former journalist, appears in some reporting as well.
Additional names that have surfaced include pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings, former Arizona political candidate Kari Lake, and longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller.
Coverage has further noted figures such as Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security and other members of the White House press and communications staff.
The Departure of Leavitt
Trump announced Leavitt’s exit on Truth Social on August 12, describing her as one of his most trusted aides and praising her performance. Leavitt cited the demands of the role after returning from maternity leave following the birth of her second child in May.
She is expected to remain active in supporting the administration’s agenda from outside the White House.
During her earlier maternity leave, the administration relied on rotating senior officials for briefings rather than naming an interim press secretary. Some reporting has suggested a similar approach could continue temporarily.
No timeline has been given for a formal announcement. Prediction markets have reflected fluctuating interest in various names, including some longer-shot options not prominently featured in administration-sourced reporting. As of August 13, the White House has not confirmed any preferred candidate, leaving the field open among the names under discussion.
