BBC News
· collected 2026-08-14 · by Sareen Habeshian & Bernd Debusmann Jr, White House reporter
The White House Press Secretary position is open after Karoline Leavitt's departure at the end of the month, with no decision yet made on a replacement, according to sources within and close to the administration. Trump has described Leavitt as one of his "most trusted aides" and finding someone to take over could be difficult. Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer for Trump, is being considered for the position, having previously served as counsel during his first few months back at the White House. Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster and former staffer, may also be in the running, given her experience as press secretary to Vice-President Mike Pence.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
The departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will create a major opening in President Donald Trump's administration, and the guessing-game of who will replace her has already begun.
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who → publish → her
So far, the White House has not announced who will succeed Leavitt, and sources within and close to the administration said no decision has yet been made.
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decision → announce → administration
Leavitt has worked closely with Trump for years, and finding someone to take over could prove difficult.
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finding → work → someone
In announcing she would step down at the end of the month, Trump called Leavitt one of his "most trusted aides".
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Trump → announce → aides
When Leavitt was on leave earlier this year, a series of high-ranking figures, including Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gave press briefings, instead of a temporary substitute from her office.
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series → rank → office
Some expect the White House to return to that system, at least temporarily.
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House → expect → system
But the complex job goes beyond the briefing room podium to include managing contentious relationships with the press, coordinating with other parts of the White House, and providing media advice to the president.
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job → go → president
The secretary also oversees an office that receives a significant amount of inquiries and requests on a daily basis.
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that → oversee → basis
Perhaps most importantly, Leavitt's replacement will also be expected to live up to Trump's expectations.
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replacement → expect → expectations
"It's not easy," a source close to the administration told the BBC.
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source → tell → BBC
"That person will be very aware that he's watching every day."
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he → watch → day
In December, she resigned as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, after a court battle over her eligibility to serve as US attorney for the state.
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she → resign → state
Trump selected Habba for the role of US attorney last year.
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Trump → select → attorney
When a district court rejected her nomination, Trump then installed her in a role allowing her to fill in on an acting basis.
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her → reject → basis
During Trump's first few months back at the White House, Habba served as the president's counsellor.
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Habba → serve → counsellor
In announcing her appointment, Trump described Habba as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a "tireless advocate for justice".
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Trump → announce → justice
Habba, 42, first joined Trump's personal legal team in 2021 after reportedly meeting him at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
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Habba → join → Bedminster
She went on to represent Trump in his hush-money trial in New York in 2024, when he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
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he → go → records
Trump has filed an appeal against that conviction.
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Trump → file → conviction
The 34-year-old is married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller - the conservative firebrand who set the president's hard-line immigration agenda in motion.
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who → set → motion
She served as press secretary to former Vice-President Mike Pence from 2019 to 2020, and then as his communications director from 2020 to 2021.
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She → serve → 2021
She was later the communications director for Doge, the cost-cutting initiative headed by billionaire Elon Musk also called the "Department of Government Efficiency".
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She → cut → Efficiency
Miller's podcast, launched last August, is targeted toward conservative women and busy mothers.
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podcast → launch → women
Anna Kelly
Anna Kelly is currently White House deputy press secretary and works under Leavitt.
The 29-year-old former beauty queen has represented the White House in the media.
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queen → work → media
She was previously the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee and worked for Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin.
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She → work → Wisconsin
Sage Steele
Sage Steele, a former television anchor and sportscaster, campaigned for Trump during the 2024 election.
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Steele → campaign → election
The 53-year-old has emerged as a prominent conservative media figure and continued supporter of the president.
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old → emerge → president
She has hosted several sports programs, including SportsCenter, First Take and the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
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She → host → SportsCenter
The spokesperson has been known for his combative approach with the media and fervent defence of the president.
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spokesperson → know → president
Cheung joined Trump's 2016 campaign and later became the director of rapid response during his first term.
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Cheung → join → term
He left the White House in 2018 and started a private firm that worked with Trump's 2020 campaign.
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that → leave → campaign
Prior to joining Trump's team, he headed communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
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he → join → Championship
After the announcement of Leavitt's departure, he posted a photo with her and congratulated her on "A job well done!"
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he → post → job
He added: "Karoline has been the best teammate.
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Karoline → add → ?
She is fiercely loyal, unflappable, and a great person who serves the President with honor."
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who → serve → honor
As a former assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, McLaughlin was known for ferociously defending the Trump administration's immigration policies on US airwaves.
She has maintained a low profile since leaving the role in February, but McLaughlin also has strong bona fides stretching back to the first Trump term, when she served in a variety of roles at the treasury and the State Department.
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she → know → treasury
McLaughlin has been a political contributor for ABC News, and served as communications director for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and for the short-lived presidential campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy.
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McLaughlin → serve → Ramaswamy
Political commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as a fierce defender of the Trump administration on CNN, where he is a senior political contributor, earning him widespread praise from many of the president's supporters.
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he → emerge → supporters
Once a critic of Trump, 48-year-old Jennings also has considerable experience in politics, having worked on four presidential campaigns.
He also worked on three of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell's campaigns, and is considered a close ally of the former party leader.
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He → have → leader
Trump has publicly praised Jennings, who last year published the book A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization.
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Trump → praise → Civilization
…and 2 more, not listed.
