TV Star Emerges as Shock Frontrunner to Replace Karoline Leavitt
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced last week that she will leave her position at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children, setting off speculation about who Trump will select to replace her.
With only about two weeks remaining before Leavitt’s departure, rumors have been swirling about who might replace Leavitt.
In a significant development for the Trump administration, CNN political commentator and staunch conservative voice Scott Jennings has positioned himself as the leading candidate to succeed Leavitt.
Sources close to the process reportedly told the Daily Mail that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has actively engaged Jennings in private discussions about the critical communications role.
While several ambitious figures sought face time with President Trump at his Bedminster golf club over the weekend, Wiles focused her efforts elsewhere.
The influential chief of staff dined with Jennings at a Washington, D.C., steakhouse, underscoring her preference for the seasoned media fighter known for his unapologetic defenses of the president against left-leaning cable news attacks.
“It’s his if he wants it,” one source close to Jennings said of the press secretary job. “And he does.”
Jennings, 48, a former George W. Bush administration aide and Daily Mail columnist, has earned widespread respect in conservative circles for routinely standing alone against hostile liberal panels on CNN.
His track record of sharp, effective rebuttals makes him uniquely equipped to handle the White House briefing room’s aggressive press corps.
Three White House sources familiar with the selection process confirmed that Jennings met with Wiles before Leavitt’s formal announcement of her departure last Wednesday.
The pair connected again this weekend at Morton’s and ‘speak often,’ a source told the Daily Mail.
President Trump has expressed a preference for a female successor to the 28-year-old Leavitt, yet he remains a strong admirer of Jennings’ capabilities.
EXCLUSIVE: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was at DC steakhouse Mastro’s blocks away from the White House having dinner with her chosen candidate to replace Karoline Leavitt.
Read all the details about their private dinner last weekend: https://t.co/8pIjPRlZdt
— Elina Shirazi (@elinashirazi) August 19, 2026
The timing of Leavitt’s exit, coming less than three months before the pivotal November midterms, has intensified the search for a battle-tested communicator who can advance the administration’s agenda without flinching.
As Wiles and Jennings conferred, Trump hosted competing aspirants at Bedminster.
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Among them was Alina Habba, 42, the president’s former attorney recognized for her tenacity and media presence.
Also present were real estate executive and close Trump ally Bill Pulte, 38, and White House aide Natalie Harp, 35.
“They were all trying to get in front of him this weekend. It was like The Apprentice,” one source who was informed about the weekend said. “It reeks of desperation.”
Jennings stands out as the clear frontrunner.
His willingness to break with conventional narratives when necessary has not diminished the confidence Trump’s team places in him.
The White House officially denied to the Daily Mail that any meetings occurred. Jennings and Wiles were contacted for comment.
Leavitt’s departure created an urgent scramble within the administration.
In a statement, she described returning to work soon after the birth of her second child as “the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life.”
Insiders explained that the intense demands contributed to her decision.
“It was a constant stream of messages from him [during maternity leave] and it was overwhelming,” one insider explained.
“It was a very stressful job to do with her children. She never got any sleep, and she didn’t want her performance to slip either, so she decided to stay as long as she could and do the job well. The president did everything he could to keep her,” the source added.
Iran TV Airs Sick Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports of $10M Bounty
Iranian state media aired an insane video about killing Barron Trump, along with reporting a $10 million bounty on his head ... and it's sure to get President Donald Trump's attention.
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CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Video: Iran TV Broadcasts Disturbing Threat Against Barron Trump, Reports $10M Bounty
The "Where to kill Barron Trump" clip says Barron's movements are being "fully monitored" while he's attending New York University ... and claims Barron's accounts for Xbox and Discord have been hacked.
The video goes into depth about what Barron wears ... and what his bodyguards wear. It also alleges his travel habits.
Per reports, the f-ed-up video is tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ... and it's a big-time escalation in the threats coming out of Iran toward Trump as the war rages on.
The chilling video aired amid Trump ratcheting up pressure on Iran to finally crack ... his latest measure, dubbed "economic D-Day,” is meant to cripple Iran's economy.
The video might just be a BS scary tactic ... but it's still pretty freaking unnerving for the 20-year-old college student.
Chaos around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future as ‘six month plan’ revealed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are just days away from relocating back to Britain with their children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be relocating back to the UK in a matter of days, however, they may not actually be staying here permanently. Just last week, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alongside their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will be moving back to Britain.
It was reported that the children had already been enrolled on British schools, with the exact name and location of the school not revealed. It was also reported that the family would live in a private, non-royal residence, with the location kept private for security reasons. The motive behind the move was not reported.
While many think this means the Sussex family will be back in the UK - the country they once criticised very publicly - someone close to the couple has revealed that it could actually only be temporary.
The source told The Times: “It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.
“They might suddenly go: ‘Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?’ It’s one of the great things about being private individuals [that they can live where they choose].”
The family has spent the last six years living in Montecito, California (Image: Instagram / @meghan)
Harry and Meghan themselves have not released a statement on their upcoming move back to Harry’s home country.
Rumours have been swirling about why they are relocating, with some people believing it is due to Harry’s desire to be close to King Charles.
Other reports suggest that Meghan has been offered an acting role based in Britain, although there is no official confirmation.
The family are reportedly set to fly over from California before the end of August, allowing the children to settle before they start at their new school. It has been reported that the family will keep their Montecito home in America, and their Portugal holiday home. It has also been reported that the family's chickens will stay at the Montecito home, while the family's two dogs are expected to fly over to the UK with them.
