Scott Jennings emerges as early favorite to replace Karoline Leavitt but process is just beginning

By Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, CNN

(CNN) — Scott Jennings has emerged as an early favorite for next White House press secretary, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, though all stressed that the process is far from complete.

Chief of staff Susie Wiles recently met with Jennings, who is a CNN contributor, at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Washington, DC, at the request of the White House, two sources familiar with the meeting said, and multiple staffers believe he has her backing.

“He’s competent and good on TV,” one senior White House official said of why Wiles had shown interest in Jennings, a longtime adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell who also served in the George W. Bush administration.

CNN has reached out to Jennings.

The longtime GOP strategist is just one of a few candidates who has piqued the interest of the White House, and one source said Wiles plans to meet with several other potential contenders before making any decisions. With Karoline Leavitt’s departure at the end of the month and the midterms less than three months away, the White House is facing a critical vacancy — but officials have stressed they’re not rushing the process.

And another White House official pushed back on the idea that Wiles is backing anyone at this point, saying the chief of staff will take her time to find the right fit.

Wiles is looking for a “grown up” who understands how the job works and can maintain a level of professionalism as the face of the administration, two sources said, with that the candidate likely to be external.

President Donald Trump has also told his team he is happy to take his time weighing his options, and isn’t in a rush to make a decision, officials said. He’s weighing relying again on a rotating cast of Cabinet officials to handle press briefings for an indefinite period, CNN previously reported.

Still, chatter about Jennings has grown in recent days.

Asked by CNN’s Abby Phillip if he was interviewing for the job, Jennings demurred on Wednesday.

“I don’t have any comment about that,” he said on “NewsNight,” while appearing to use the opportunity to show he understands the importance of the role.

“I think every president deserves a good, solid defense and someone who can go out there and explain what they’re doing, because the government’s doing so much,” Jennings said. “The American people deserve somebody to go out there and tell them what’s going on with their president and with the government as much as they can. That that job is the conduit to transparency in front of the camera and also behind the scenes, and that’s an important part.”

Jennings refused to say if he had been in communication with the White House about the job specifically or if he would take the job if offered. One source insisted that he is not gunning for the job, pointing to the fact that the political operative lives in Kentucky with his four school-aged children.

A big part of the ongoing conversations over who should replace Leavitt is finding someone who can work closely with reporters behind the scenes, in addition to being an attack dog for Trump behind the podium.

Leavitt is part of a small group of advisers whom the president trusts and listens to, and the team would like her replacement to be similarly positioned. Leavitt, for example, regularly weighs in during private meetings with Trump, including on issues outside the scope of communications.

And some officials have raised concerns that selecting a person like Jennings, whom Trump has said “looks the part” and handles himself well on television, may serve primarily as a public face for messaging.

“Can he do all the closed door legwork that has made Karoline so effective? No one knows,” one Trump adviser told CNN.

Meanwhile, there’s growing concern among White House staffers over the imminent departure of Leavitt, who announced last week that she’d be leaving the job at the of the month to spend more time with her young family.

“She’s thoughtful, she’s not impulsive, she actually understands the job. Some outside person doesn’t understand the way it works,” one White House official said. “It feels like her and Susie (Wiles) are the only people holding this place together sometimes.”

At least one name often speculated to be vying for the press secretary job removed herself from the running this week. Alina Habba, a former lawyer and political adviser to Trump who briefly served as acting US attorney for the District of New Jersey, said Wednesday that she’s not seeking the position.

“Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job,” Habba posted on X.

At the same time, another name has entered the mix. Following the media firestorm around Natalie Harp, the president has joked to advisers that maybe he would tap his executive assistant for the role, according to one source.

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