The glamorous MAGA frontrunners Trump's inner circle is whispering about who could replace Karoline Leavitt… including a VERY peculiar option

By CHARLIE SPIERING, US POLITICAL REPORTER and ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 12:25, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 12:28, 13 August 2026 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's sudden announcement to step down from her position kicked into motion immediate speculation about who would replace her at the podium.  Trump announced the news Wednesday afternoon on social media after speaking with Leavitt about her decision. She was last publicly seen with the president and his team on the Air Force One trip to Ohio for the Patriot Games on Tuesday.  The news shocked Washington, DC, as Leavitt kept details of her decision very close, but sources close to the White House told the Daily Mail that 'change was in the air' during the last few weeks.  Sources told the Daily Mail they were surprised that the president did not announce a replacement press secretary in his post on Truth Social, indicating there was no immediate choice.  'You'll never find another Karoline Leavitt,' a source close to the White House told the Daily Mail. 'She's irreplaceable.'  Longtime Trump communicator Jason Miller, who recently returned to the White House in July, would likely take the lead on press operations, a source close to the White House said, although it was unclear whether he would start briefing from the podium.  Once source told the Daily Mail that in the immediate future for West Wing staff is a likely return to the same routine that they grew accustomed to when Leavitt was on maternity leave. Former Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, pictured with Donald Trump, is seen as a possible replacement for Karoline Leavitt Jason Miller, a longtime media advisor to US President Donald Trump, returned to the White House in July  Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, a former beauty queen, could be in the running  Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were among the cabinet officials who performed well at the White House press briefing podium while Leavitt was absent. There is no immediate apparent successor to Leavitt among her deputy press team, one source told the Daily Mail, although technically Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly would be considered by the West Wing as next in line.  'They're all great people, but my guess is that the president picks someone else outside the building,' a source told the Daily Mail.  The press team has also had its own departures as White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson left last week and Director of Media Affairs Sonny Joy Nelson also departed earlier in the year.  Other possible candidates included former Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, who left the building with former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after just a few weeks in the position.  'Trump loves Katie,' one source noted, pointing out that the president frequently shared clips of her Fox News hits on his social media feed. Although former DHS McLaughlin's name is being floated as one of Leavitt's potential successors, the Daily Mail has learned she is five months pregnant and unlikely to return.  CNN political commentator Scott Jennings was another popular choice for the job. 'Scott Jennings could be Trump's Tony Snow,' a source remarked, referring to former George W Bush press secretary who left Fox News to serve at the podium.  Jennings has the 'gravitas' to handle the press room, sources agreed, and although he was not a traditional 'Trump world' figure, he is seen by many Washington insiders as someone who could perform well at the podium.  An unusual name being floated is Director of U.S. Federal Housing Bill Pulte, one of Trump's most loyal and trusted aides.  One source noted that the combative former acting intel chief could conceivably be called up by the president, but noted darkly that 'Susie Wiles would never go for it.'  Pulte, recently served a role as the acting director of national intelligence for 45 days to clean house at the agency, before stepping down. Former counselor to the president Alina Habba could return to do the job, one source noted, although she left the White House in March 2025. CNN political commentator Scott Jennings is a popular choice in Washington as a someone who could take over podium duties from Karoline Leavitt  President Donald Trump has yet to name a new press secretary to replace Karoline Leavitt Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte was rumored as a long-shot possibility  White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, White House communications advisor Margo Martin and executive assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump Natalie Harp traveled with the president on Tuesday 'He knows how to do the back and forth, take a punch, deliver a punch, but do it with a smile,' one source said.  Katie Miller, a former Department of Government Efficiency spokesperson and press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, has also been a rumored candidate, but sources told the Daily Mail that she would not likely take the job.  She just had her fourth child this Summer. Her husband Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is already spending significant time away from their family, a source noted.