CNN political contributor Scott Jennings is interviewing for the White House press secretary role, according to reporting from August 20, 2026, as President Trump considers candidates to replace Karoline Leavitt, who is stepping down from the position at the end of the month.
Jennings, a conservative commentator and founding partner of RunSwitch Public Relations, has emerged as a frontrunner for the position. According to The Daily Beast, he met with Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles over the weekend at Morton’s steakhouse in Washington, D.C., to discuss taking on the role even before Leavitt announced her departure last week.
Sources familiar with the selection process told the Daily Mail that Jennings and Wiles “speak often,” with one insider suggesting the job is “his if he wants it.” The meetings have positioned Jennings as a leading contender among multiple candidates being considered for the role.
Jennings has served as a senior aide in the George W. Bush administration and later as an adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell. He has been a visible Trump defender on CNN, frequently appearing on the network’s political programming and writing columns for multiple outlets including Gannett, the Los Angeles Times, and CNN Opinion.
However, the selection process remains open. According to The Daily Beast, Trump has made clear he would prefer to see another woman take the podium following Leavitt’s departure. Other candidates in consideration include Trump’s former attorney Alina Habba, current Department of Homeland Security press secretary Katie Zacharia, Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, and housing chief Bill Pulte, among others.
Leavitt, 28, announced her departure to spend more time with her young family following the birth of her second child. She has been the second-longest-serving press secretary under Trump, according to USA Today.
When asked directly about the position in an exclusive Q&A with CNN’s Abby Phillip on August 20, Jennings responded with measured ambiguity, saying “I don’t know” when asked whether he would consider the press secretary job. His coy response came even as he continued to make media appearances that suggested active interest in the role.
Sources
- CNN — Confirmed Jennings is interviewing for the press secretary role and Leavitt’s stepping down at month’s end
- The Daily Beast — Reported Jennings met with Susie Wiles at Morton’s steakhouse and Trump’s preference for a female successor
- USA Today — Noted Leavitt as second-longest-serving press secretary under Trump
