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Leavitt Aids Trump in Search for New Press Secretary
Confirmed
In Short: Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is assisting President Donald Trump in his search for a new press secretary following Katie Zacharia's five-day tenure.
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is assisting President Donald Trump in his search for a new press secretary following Katie Zacharia's five-day tenure.
Leavitt, who served as Trump's press secretary from the start of his second term until August 27, 2026, stepped down to spend more time with her family.
Leavitt noted that the press secretary role requires extensive preparation and that it can be challenging to predict how someone will perform until they face reporters in the briefing room.
When asked about her successor's rapid exit, Leavitt said, 'The job obviously was not for her.' She added that she is advising Trump on the qualities the next press secretary should possess, including being tough, smart, loyal, and capable of defending the administration's policies.
Leavitt declined to discuss the specifics of her private conversations with Trump but emphasized that the president understands the media landscape and knows the type of spokesperson he wants.
Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, has returned to her home state and is not considering a run for public office in the near future.
The Independent (United Kingdom) reported that Kelly, a former Homeland Security spokesperson and Newsmax contributor, is the frontrunner to succeed Zacharia, according to Kalshi bettors.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Independent that the president and his team are focused on the midterm elections and that Trump will continue to campaign directly with the American people.
Leavitt's advice to Trump reflects her own experience as press secretary, where she worked over 60 hours a week, traveled the world, and was always on call, 24/7.
Leavitt's decision to leave the White House was described as a 'bittersweet decision' due to her desire to be a better mother to her young children.
Trump publicly supported Leavitt's decision to leave and said she would remain a trusted outside adviser and an influential voice within the Republican Party.
What this adds
Zacharia's brief tenure as press secretary is reminiscent of Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint as communications director in 2017, highlighting the volatility of roles within the Trump administration.
Zacharia's tenure was marked by a contentious first press briefing on Tuesday, where she took questions from only three reporters, all from conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets, and left after just 14 minutes.
Background
Zacharia's brief tenure as press secretary is reminiscent of Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint as communications director in 2017, highlighting the volatility of roles within the Trump administration.
Zacharia's tenure was marked by a contentious first press briefing on Tuesday, where she took questions from only three reporters, all from conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets, and left after just 14 minutes.
What's confirmed
- MANCHESTER, N.H. - Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says she is helping President Donald Trump choose his next press secretary after his first pick for the job lasted just five days.
- Leavitt served as Trump's press secretary from the start of the president's second term until Aug. 27, when she stepped down from the demanding role to spend more time with her two young children, including a daughter who was born in May.
- She noted that the job "takes a lot of preparation and sometimes you don't know how someone will perform until they go out there."
- It provides you with incredible opportunities." Asked what advice she's offered to Trump, Leavitt said, "I'll keep my private counsel to the president private, but I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well." "Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump.
What's still developing
- "is continuing to look over options. There's a lot of people who want that job. It's an amazing job. It provides you with incredible opportunities."
- She then served as spokeswoman for the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc.
- “She is the spokesperson for MAGA Inc., and it is her job to support his endorsed candidates and hand-selected staff and this is a clear deviation from that responsibility,” the source added.
- @karolineleavitt weighs in on her successor's rapid White House exit, says the job "was not for her." Leavitt tells me she's giving advice to @realDonaldTrump as he looks for another replacement – "he needs someone who is tough"… pic.twitter.com/F2l17pZ81b What do YOU think?
- Shortly after her return from maternity leave, she announced her resignation.
- I know that because I did it.” “Many people say it’s one of the hardest jobs in politics.
- “I’ve offered my help to the president to help him select someone who can serve him and the country well,” Leavitt said.
- Upon announcing Zacharia’s appointment, Trump hailed her as a “loyal and brilliant supporter.” Despite the hype, Zacharia fell short during her first briefing October 13, which lasted a measly 14 minutes.
- During that time, she awkwardly read from prepared remarks, accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” and took questions from only three journalists.
- “The President is the best messenger and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party and he will continue crisscrossing the country to share his commonsense, America First agenda directly with the American people.” Several names have been floating around — and betted on — for Zacharia’s replacement.