President Donald Trump is weighing a plan to rely on a rotating roster of Cabinet officials to conduct White House press briefings on an indefinite basis. The idea emerges as press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she will leave her post at the end of August.
Uncertainty over a replacement
According to three sources familiar with internal discussions, Trump has not yet identified a successor and has expressed “zero urgency” about filling the role. A senior White House official said the president “genuinely doesn’t know who to pick.”
Jockeying among allies
Despite the president’s indecision, several Trump allies have begun positioning themselves as potential candidates. Some have reached out to junior staffers for a recommendation, while others have approached Trump directly. Names mentioned include former model and Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko, former acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Alina Habba, former George W. Bush aide and Trump advocate Scott Jennings, White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, and former Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
Leavitt’s departure and past briefings
Leavitt, a trusted aide, is expected to remain a close adviser after her exit. Historically, Trump has often acted as his own spokesman through frequent Truth Social posts and brief phone interviews. When Leavitt took maternity leave earlier this year, other officials—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Medicare and Medicaid head Dr. Mehmet Oz—filled in, with mixed results.
Challenges of the role
One source familiar with internal conversations described the press secretary position as “an insane, thankless job” that would inevitably be compared to Leavitt’s tenure. The source warned that any new appointee would face constant scrutiny.
What comes next
The White House has not confirmed any timeline for a decision, and it remains unclear whether Trump will ultimately appoint a permanent press secretary or continue the rotating‑officials approach. The situation underscores the broader uncertainty surrounding the administration’s communication strategy as it heads into the final months of Trump’s second term.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
