While the question of who will succeed Karoline Leavitt remains unanswered with less than two weeks left in her tenure, one potential candidate said she is not in the running. Alina Habba shut down speculation she could take the podium as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary, despite holding a double-digit lead on prediction market Kalshi for much of Wednesday. Kalshi traders gave Habba—former interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey who also served as Trump’s personal lawyer and legal spokesperson—a 41 percent chance of replacing Leavitt.
In a post following the announcement that Leavitt will be leaving the position at the end of August, Habba said, “whoever gets that podium next better come ready for a fight.” Newsweek reached out to Habba via X for comment. Within the hour, by 7 p.m., Habba’s odds had fallen. The markets currently list CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings as a favorite to succeed Leavitt, followed by White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly.
ET, Kalshi traders gave Jennings a 37 percent chance of succeeding Leavitt, followed by Kelly at 24 percent and Habba at 8.3 percent. Jennings is a prominent CNN pundit and frequent defender of the Trump administration. Previously, he served as special assistant to President George W.
Bush and adviser to GOP Senator Mitch McConnell. Trump has had five press secretaries across his two administrations. Trump told close advisers he would prefer a man to serve as the next press secretary, NOTUS reported, adding that he has signaled interest in Jennings for the position.
Trump announced on August 12 that Leavitt would be stepping down from her role to spend more time with her two young children and family, calling the decision one “I totally understand and respect.” Leavitt made history as the youngest White House press secretary in history, taking office at age 27. She will continue to serve as one of the president’s top outside advisers after her departure from the podium. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T.
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