Outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt served President Donald Trump and his administration well by all accounts.
And because she was such an effective communicator of the president’s agenda and policies, supporters have already speculated that she will be difficult to replace.
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That said, Trump may have inadvertently revealed who he is leaning toward as Leavitt’s successor.
Trump spent the weekend at his Bedminster, New Jersey, estate, where he was joined by several members of his inner circle, including a figure whose name has recently surfaced in speculation surrounding the future of the White House press secretary position.
A video posted on social media showed the president attending a gathering with dozens of guests, including former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey and personal lawyer Alina Habba.
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Habba has emerged as one of several names mentioned as a possible successor to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who announced this week that she was stepping down from the role.
Leavitt, 28, said balancing the demands of the job with raising two young children had become increasingly difficult after she returned to work following the birth of her second child, Viviana, on May 1.
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Efforts to identify a replacement for Leavitt are expected to intensify as Republicans prepare for November’s midterm elections, which will determine control of both chambers of Congress.
Habba, 42, served as a member of Trump’s legal team during his New York civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The lawsuit accused Trump and his company of misrepresenting the value of financial assets.
In 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled against Trump and ordered him to pay a judgment of more than $460 million.
In August 2025, a New York appellate court later overturned the ruling, marking a significant legal victory for Trump.
Habba, a New Jersey native, launched her law firm, Habba, Madaio and Associates LLP, in 2020, establishing offices in both Bedminster, New Jersey, and New York.
President Trump had a pretty chill weekend at his Bedminster, NJ club, dancing to the YMCA with Ivanka last night
Alina Habba was seated right behind him, amid rumors Habba could be tapped as the new press secretary 👀 pic.twitter.com/OopLbCVGnO
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 16, 2026
In March 2025, she was appointed acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, placing her in charge of overseeing federal criminal and civil prosecutions in the state.
Her tenure in the position ended in December 2025 after an appeals court determined that her appointment did not comply with federal requirements, forcing her to step down from the role.
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“But do not mistake compliance for surrender,” she wrote in a statement shared on X. “This decision will not weaken the Justice Department, and it will not weaken me.”
Several other candidates have also been mentioned as potential replacements for Leavitt.
Those whose names have surfaced in recent discussions include Trump’s chief of protocol, Monica Crowley; CNN commentator Scott Jennings; former Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller; Leavitt’s deputy, Anna Kelly; and former administration official and conservative podcaster Katie Miller, who is married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
According to sources familiar with internal White House discussions, conversations about possible candidates for the role remain ongoing.
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One of those two sources described Leavitt’s exit as “unplanned,” adding that her position is “a super important job” for the president.
However, the source told the UK’s Mirror, “There is probably time before he makes a decision.”
Leavitt announced last week that she was stepping down.
Leavitt took maternity leave in April, prompting changes to how press briefings will be handled.
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In March, it was reported that Deputy Press Secretary Kelly was widely viewed as a leading internal candidate to step into Leavitt’s role.
Kelly joined the White House in January after serving in senior communications roles at the Republican National Committee and in the House of Representatives.
Kelly also serves as a special assistant to Trump, a role noted on her social media profile and one that places her in close proximity to senior decision-making within the administration.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
