The competition to fill the vacant position of White House press secretary following the departure of Karoline Leavitt has turned contentious, with various figures from Trump’s orbit clashing over potential successors.
Sources close to the Trump administration have characterized the situation as a “knife fight,” with supporters of different candidates publicly criticizing rivals while a few frontrunners stumble over past statements.
Former CNN commentator Scott Jennings once seemed like the top choice for the role, especially after a dinner with chief of staff Susie Wiles. However, controversy erupted when his previous comments about the Capitol riot resurfaced, where he attributed the insurrection to misleading claims made by Donald Trump.
This situation intensified when disgraced former Congressman Matt Gaetz highlighted Jennings’ past remarks, suggesting that appointing him as press secretary would be detrimental.
Despite Jennings’s attempts to apologize for his past sentiments about Trump, and his public rebuke of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, insiders said the president remains unconvinced.
According to sources, Jennings’ continued presence on CNN may have led Trump to reassess his candidacy. A source close to Trump noted, ‘The president also did say, “Look, he’s doing great for us on CNN. Maybe he’s more valuable there.”‘
Another contender, Alina Habba, who served as Trump’s personal attorney, has reportedly fallen out of favor. Despite expressing willingness to take the post if offered, sources indicate her chances are nonexistent as Trump feels she has not capitalized on previous opportunities.
A source close to the White House remarked, “Habba has a lot of connections within the White House, but the president is uninterested in giving her another job.”
Among the other candidates vying for the role are Roma Daravi, who leads public relations at the Kennedy Center, and Caroline Sunshine, a former campaign aide turned cable pundit.
Both have been actively defending Trump in media appearances, but neither has garnered much traction with the president, according to insiders. An advisor even referred to Sunshine as disloyal after her critical remarks regarding U.S. military actions last year in Iran.
In response to the criticism, Sunshine fired back: “White House officials are spending their days tracking my TV hits, tweets, and hairstyles? Perhaps if the White House was 100 percent focused on correcting the fake news about the President, he’d be getting better press. Get back to work.”
Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in late August to spend more time with her young children, is now working within Trump’s political operation, reportedly advising him on her own replacement.
Despite her involvement, there seems to be no rush to fill the position, and insiders suggest it may remain vacant until after the upcoming November elections.
The absence of a press secretary was particularly notable on a recent occasion when Trump announced a media ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, leaving no one at the podium to elaborate on what this would entail.
While Jennings currently remains at CNN, he faces tough questions from his colleagues over his past defenses of Trump, a dynamic that complicates his potential return to a direct role in the administration.
As the scramble for the press secretary position continues, the implications of these conflicts might extend beyond personnel, impacting Trump’s relationship with the media and shaping his narrative heading into a pivotal election period.
This ongoing saga underscores the heightened tensions within Trump’s inner circle as potential candidates battle for favor, each hoping to secure a key role in shaping the administration’s communication strategy.
With no clear frontrunner emerging and differing opinions on the suitability of various candidates, the future of Trump’s press operation hangs in the balance.
