White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently announced plans to step down from her post. Now, speculation is rampant about who could take over her mantle and the names of 5 key candidates have emerged.
Karoline Leavitt’s Announcement
Karoline Leavitt has resigned from her role as the White House press secretary, with her tenure ending in August. Speaking about the same, US President Donald Trump stated that Leavitt is leaving “so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!”
He then added that she will now serve as “one of my top outside advisors” and help the Republican party to win the midterm elections in November. After Trump’s announcement, she took to X and shared that “Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least,” . She also stated serving as the White House’s press secretary has been the ‘‘honor and adventure of a lifetime’’.
5 Key Contenders Emerge That Could Replace Karoline Leavitt
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Alina Habba
Alina Saad Habba is an American lawyer and political advisor who currently serves as the US attorney for the district of New Jersey. She originally gained widespread recognition as Trump’s personal lawyer, managing his defense in high-profile cases, including the E. Jean Carroll defamation suit and the New York civil fraud case.
Habba also has experience in the White House. From January 2025 to March 2025, Leavitt served as Counselor to the President and then stepped away from that role to become the interim attorney for New Jersey. She was appointed in that role full time in May 2025.
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Matthew Boyle
Journalist and media strategist Matthew Boyle has emerged as another promising contender to replace Karoline Leavitt. Boyle has served as the Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News for over a decade. He is close to Trump aide Steve Bannon and has conducted multiple interviews with the president at Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster.
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Taylor Budowich
Taylor Anthony Budowich is an American political consultant who got appointed as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel during the early phase of Trump’s second tenure. In October 2025, he resigned to switch to the private sector. But many believe that he could return to become the next press secretary.
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Steven Cheung
Steven Cheung is an American political advisor who currently serves as the White House’s communications director. Given his current role, chances are high that Trump could consider him for the role of press secretary.
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Katie Miller
Katie Miller served as the Press Secretary to Vice President Mike Pence during Trump’s first tenure, which means that she has all the credentials. She is married to Stephen Miller, a close aide of Trump, which means that she is in the inner political circles of Washington DC.
In addition to the above mentioned candidates, the names of principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and US chief of protocol Monica Crowley, have also popped up.
When Will Karoline Leavitt’s Replacement Be Announced?
A timeline for when Leavitt’s replacement will be announced hasn’t been shared yet. She will stay till the end of August. If a permanent choice is not named by September 1, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung or Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly will likely serve as interim press secretary.
