President Trump has reportedly considered CNN commentator Scott Jennings for White House press secretary but remains "not quite sold" on him, according to NOTUS. Karoline Leavitt plans to step down at month-end to care for her newborn, and Trump reportedly prefers a male successor. Jennings has publicly denied he will take the role but gave a noncommittal response about White House contact. Ari Fleischer and Natalie Harp have also been floated, and the White House is not rushing a decision.
Trump Weighs Scott Jennings for Press Secretary but Says He’s "Not Quite Sold"
Screenshots via CNN
President Donald Trump has reportedly considered CNN commentator Scott Jennings for the role of White House press secretary, but sources say the president remains unconvinced that Jennings is the right fit.
Background
According to a Wednesday report from NOTUS citing two people familiar with the conversations, Trump told advisers he would prefer a man to succeed Karoline Leavitt, who announced last week that she plans to leave the press secretary post at the end of the month to spend more time with her newborn.
Candidates and Reactions
Jennings is among the names reportedly under consideration, but NOTUS quoted a source saying the president is "not quite sold" on appointing the CNN pundit. On air, Jennings has repeatedly faced questions about the speculation.
When guest host Lulu Garcia-Navarro asked whether he intended to accept the role, Jennings replied simply, "No."
In a separate exchange with Kaitlan Collins, Jennings offered a less definitive response when asked whether the White House had contacted him: "I don't really have anything to say about it other than, I mean, I would get to see you every day." Collins observed, "That's not a no."
Other Names and Next Steps
NOTUS also reported that former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer has been floated as an option. One person close to the White House suggested that recent attention on top aide Natalie Harp could unexpectedly put her in contention as well. The president is reportedly not in a hurry to make a decision.
Note: The item originally appeared on Mediaite and was summarized here based on reporting attributed to NOTUS.
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