TRUMP DROPS A NEW HINT ON KAROLINE LEAVITT’S REPLACEMENT — “We Have a Lot of People”

Trump Drops Hint About Karoline Leavitt's Replacement

The White House still has not officially named Karoline Leavitt’s permanent replacement.

But President Donald Trump may have just revealed that the decision is getting closer.

Speaking with reporters after returning from Ireland on Sept. 13, Trump was asked about the search for a new White House press secretary.

His answer immediately added another layer to the mystery.

“We have a lot of people that want it.”

Then Trump went further.

He said he “may have developed one” over the weekend — suggesting he may have a preferred candidate in mind, although he did not identify that person publicly.

So who is Trump considering?

And why hasn't he announced the choice yet?

The Search Is Clearly Moving

Karoline Leavitt officially left the press secretary position at the end of August after Trump announced that she would step down to spend more time with her family.

Trump also said she would continue as an outside adviser.

Leavitt's departure created an unusual situation for the White House.

The administration did not immediately install a permanent successor.

Instead, senior officials have taken turns handling public briefings and speaking for the administration.

Trump's latest comments suggest that arrangement could continue for a little longer.

He said the White House would use Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials for the time being, mentioning figures including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

That means the next press secretary has not simply been selected and announced behind the scenes.

The process remains active.

Trump Says He May Already Have a Favorite

This is the part of Trump's comments that changes the story.

Saying that many people want the job is one thing.

Saying that he may already have developed a favorite is something else.

Trump did not name the person.

He also did not provide a timetable for a formal announcement.

That leaves an obvious question hanging over the White House:

Has Trump already made up his mind — or is he still testing the field?

The distinction matters because the press secretary position is one of the most visible communications jobs in the administration.

Whoever takes the podium will become one of the administration's main public voices.

The Job Has a Very Different Meaning After Leavitt

Leavitt became one of the most recognizable faces of Trump's second administration.

The White House praised her tenure after her final day, calling her the 36th White House press secretary and highlighting Trump's view that she was among the strongest holders of the office.

But Leavitt's departure was also personal.

Trump said she was leaving to spend more time with her young children, and reporting at the time noted that she had returned to the White House after maternity leave earlier in the year.

That means the next person behind the podium will be stepping into a role with an unusually visible predecessor.

The question is not simply who can conduct a briefing.

It is who will become the administration's next highly visible public messenger.

The Names Already Circulating

Several names have appeared in reporting about the search.

Among those mentioned publicly are Alina Habba and Scott Jennings, although reporting has not established either person as Trump's final choice.

Trump's own comments leave the field open.

He did not say that any particular candidate had been selected.

Instead, he emphasized the number of people interested in the job and said he would ultimately pick someone.

That means reports about possible candidates should be treated as part of an ongoing search rather than confirmation of the final appointment.

Why Trump May Be Taking His Time

There is an obvious practical reason for keeping the position temporarily flexible.

The White House has already demonstrated that senior officials can rotate through the briefing role.

Vice President JD Vance has appeared at the podium, while other Cabinet officials have also been discussed as temporary participants.

Trump specifically said he could use more Cabinet secretaries while the search continues.

That gives the president additional time to decide whom he wants permanently representing the administration to reporters.

And now Trump's “I may have developed one” comment suggests the process may have entered a different phase.

The search may be narrowing.

But the identity of the person remains undisclosed.

The Timing Makes the Choice More Significant

The next press secretary will take the job during a politically consequential period.

The 2026 midterm elections are approaching, and the administration continues to face intense scrutiny over its policies and decisions.

At the same time, the White House is dealing with an increasingly contentious relationship with major news organizations.

On Sept. 18, Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from White House access. The three organizations subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the restrictions.

That broader environment makes the communications role particularly consequential.

The next press secretary will not simply be answering routine questions.

The person will be operating at the center of an administration dealing with sustained media and political scrutiny.

But Trump Hasn't Made the Final Announcement

That distinction is important.

As of now, Trump's statement points toward a candidate search that may be getting closer to a decision, but it does not establish who the permanent replacement will be.

There is no public announcement naming the successor.

There is no confirmed indication that the person Trump hinted at is any of the names that have appeared in media reports.

And there is no announced date for the final selection.

For now, the White House is relying on a rotating group of senior officials.

But Trump's latest words have changed the question.

It is no longer simply:

“Who will replace Karoline Leavitt?”

It is: