A single sentence from President Donald Trump sent Washington’s rumor mill into overdrive this weekend.
Speaking to reporters before departing Ireland, Trump suggested for the first time that he has quietly settled on a leading candidate to become his next White House press secretary.
He refused to say who it is.
The comment came as Trump addressed the search to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the administration at the end of last month.
Reporters have watched for weeks as the president weighed his options for one of the most visible jobs in his administration.
Trump made clear the position remains in high demand. “We have a lot of people that want it,” he said. “Many people want it. Many people have been written about, as you know.”
A reporter then asked directly whether Trump had a favorite. His answer shifted mid-sentence. He first said no, then quickly added, “I may have developed one over the weekend.”
No name followed. No timeline followed either. Trump left reporters with only the suggestion that a decision may be closer than previously thought.
Until that decision comes, the administration will keep leaning on an unconventional workaround: rotating Cabinet secretaries through the White House briefing room instead of a single dedicated spokesperson.
“We’re going to use the secretaries,” Trump confirmed.
He pointed to Vice President JD Vance’s recent turn at the podium and floated Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Education Secretary Linda McMahon as possible future fill-ins.
A permanent choice is still coming, Trump insisted. “Ultimately I’ll pick somebody,” he said.
The rotating-briefing strategy has effectively turned press availabilities into a showcase for Cabinet officials’ individual portfolios.
Vance’s most recent briefing covered immigration enforcement, fraud involving commercial driver’s licenses, and the federal response to the 2023 East Palestine train derailment.
Rubio has already logged multiple appearances at the podium during Trump’s second term, and Trump signaled Sunday that the secretary of state could be called on again soon.
Meanwhile, a handful of names keep resurfacing in speculation about who will ultimately land the job permanently.
CNN commentator Scott Jennings tops many lists, a reflection of praise Trump gave him months earlier. In August, Trump remarked simply, “Scott Jennings is good.”
Other figures mentioned in connection with the role include former acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, current White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley, and Breitbart Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle.
None of this has been confirmed by the White House. Officials have consistently maintained that no formal shortlist exists and that the process remains fluid.
Leavitt’s exit reshaped the conversation entirely.
She stepped down at the end of August, saying she wanted more time with her family after welcoming her second child.
Her tenure had already made history. At just 27 years old when Trump began his second term in January 2025, Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary the country has ever seen.
Trump broke the news of her departure on Aug. 12. He said then that she would remain among his closest outside advisers and take on a growing role within Republican politics as the midterms approach.
Leavitt didn’t stay out of the political arena for long. She returned to MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC she worked for before joining his 2024 campaign.
Her reemergence became very public Thursday night. Barely two weeks removed from her West Wing role, Leavitt took the stage at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas.
Her speech aired during prime-time coverage on the convention’s closing night. She focused her remarks on Trump’s record in office and pushed Republican voters to turn out in November.
Leavitt’s abrupt exit left a gap in one of the administration’s most publicly recognized roles, and it opened at a moment when Republicans are gearing up for a critical midterm cycle.
The press secretary traditionally serves as the face of the administration to the press corps, fielding questions in televised briefings while working hand-in-hand with the president’s senior team.
Trump has made clear that a shortage of applicants isn’t the issue. What changed this weekend was his tone — for the first time, he hinted that indecision may be turning into clarity.
Whether that clarity translates into an announcement soon remains unknown. For now, Cabinet officials will keep filling in at the podium while Trump keeps his cards close.
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