President Donald Trump is actively contemplating a highly unconventional structural shift: relying on a revolving door of Cabinet-level officials to manage daily White House press briefings for the indefinite future. This potential decentralized approach follows the impending departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is slated to step down from the role at the conclusion of August, according to three sources intimately familiar with the administration’s internal planning who spoke to CNN.
This tentative strategy emerges against the backdrop of a seemingly boundless and highly competitive race to fill Leavitt’s formidable shoes. President Trump reportedly remains in the absolute nascent stages of determining who should assume one of the most critical, high-stakes, and publicly visible positions within the executive branch. Compounding the uncertainty, a senior White House official revealed that the president “genuinely doesn’t know who to pick and has expressed zero urgency” regarding the timeline for a permanent replacement, reflecting his well-documented management style of keeping aides guessing and enjoying the chaotic competition among his inner circle.
However, the president’s deliberate indecision has done nothing to dampen the fierce jockeying and behind-the-scenes maneuvering among his allies, all of whom are eager to promote their preferred successor. According to an individual briefed on these internal dynamics, several prominent figures within “Trumpworld” have already begun aggressively lobbying junior White House communications staffers, urging them to put in a favorable word on their behalf to gain an early advantage.
Furthermore, other well-connected advocates have bypassed the lower ranks and pressed Trump directly on behalf of their favored contenders. Among the most frequently mentioned names in these closed-door discussions is Elizabeth Pipko, a former fashion model turned Republican National Committee spokesperson. Pipko, who was previously vetted and seriously considered for the press secretary position during the presidential transition period, has a dedicated coalition pushing her candidacy, highlighting her media polish, telegenic presence, and communication skills.
Despite the external clamor, Trump has demonstrated remarkably little inclination to expedite a decision to replace Leavitt. She has proven herself to be a deeply trusted aide, and insiders expect her to maintain her status as one of his most intimate and influential advisers, albeit in a different, perhaps less publicly scrutinized, capacity behind the scenes. Inside the West Wing, seasoned officials have reportedly laughed off much of the outside lobbying and speculation, acutely aware that, in this administration, the ultimate decision rests solely with one person: the president himself, guided entirely by his own instincts and loyalties rather than traditional bureaucratic processes.
Over the past several days, a diverse array of Trump allies has been floated as potential candidates for the podium. This informal shortlist includes Alina Habba, who recently garnered attention for her brief tenure as the acting US attorney for the District of Columbia and is known for her fierce, unwavering legal defense of the president. Also in the mix is Scott Jennings, a seasoned former George W. Bush aide who has successfully reinvented himself as an outspoken, highly effective television advocate for the Trump agenda, bridging the gap between traditional conservative operatives and the modern MAGA movement. Additionally, internal candidates such as White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, who possesses invaluable institutional memory of the communications operation, and Tricia McLaughlin, a former Homeland Security Department spokeswoman with deep national security communications experience, are among the roughly dozen individuals currently being evaluated for the role.
Nevertheless, it remains profoundly unclear what specific qualifications, ideological litmus tests, or communication styles Trump is prioritizing for this position, or indeed, whether he even perceives a functional need to fill the job permanently. As Leavitt and other senior aides frequently point out, Trump has historically operated as his own most effective spokesman. He routinely bypasses traditional media gatekeepers through his relentless, all-hours posting on his Truth Social platform and his well-documented willingness to grant impromptu, candid interviews to reporters who happen to call his personal cell phone, rendering a formal press secretary somewhat redundant in his eyes.
Consequently, the traditional, daily White House press briefing schedule has been notably sporadic and irregular throughout Trump’s second term. A recent precedent for the rotating model was established earlier this year when Leavitt took a brief maternity leave. During her absence, a variety of high-ranking Trump officials stepped up to the James S. Brady Briefing Room podium to face the press corps. This unusual lineup included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Medicare and Medicaid chief Dr. Mehmet Oz. These fill-ins yielded varying levels of success, with some navigating the hostile questioning with polished ease, while others appeared visibly uncomfortable with the daily combat of the briefing room. The media outlet *Semafor* was the first to report on the administration’s active plans to institutionalize this Cabinet-official rotation for press briefings moving forward.
However, among some of the prominent figures whose names have been circulated for the role, there are growing, private reservations regarding the sheer, overwhelming demands of the job. One source with direct knowledge of these confidential conversations told CNN that the prospect is daunting for potential nominees. “It’s an absolutely insane job, and fundamentally, it’s a thankless one,” the source explained, highlighting the psychological toll of the position. “Whoever takes it will have to constantly follow in Karoline’s footsteps and will be subjected to relentless, unfavorable comparisons to her standard, which is a nearly impossible position to be in given the intense scrutiny of the role.”
