NEWSScott Jennings Rumored for White House Press Secretary as Donald Trump Eyes Cable News Combat
Scott Jennings emerged as a reported contender for White House press secretary.
Aug. 18 2026, Published 6:29 a.m. ET
Scott Jennings may be the latest cable news warrior to drift toward the White House podium.
Jennings, a CNN political commentator and longtime Republican operative, is reportedly a frontrunner to replace outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is leaving the role at the end of the month after giving birth to her second child in May.
Scott Jennings praised Karoline Leavitt while avoiding questions about the role.
Jennings dodged when asked about the possibility on CNN’s NewsNight, instead praising Leavitt.
“Karoline Leavitt has been maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least. She’s been nothing short of brilliant,” Jennings said. “I don’t know a single Republican in the country who isn’t in awe of and in appreciation of Karoline tonight.”
The TV-to-Podium Pipeline
A public relations expert said his cable news experience had become valuable for political communications.
“The pipeline from cable news to political communications is not new, but it has gotten much shorter,” said Amore Philip, founder of Apples and Oranges Public Relations.
“A press secretary is now a broadcast role first and a policy role second, so the people who already know how to hold a camera and land a line have a real advantage,” she added.
“When a name like Scott Jennings comes up, it is not because anyone thinks he has the deepest policy background,” she explained. “It is because he has thousands of hours of reps performing under hostile questioning, and that is the actual job description now.”
- Kaitlan Collins' $3 Million Salary Casts Shadow on Karoline Leavitt's Flashy Lifestyle
- White House Staff Departing as Donald Trump Is Said to Be 'Meaner' and More Unpleasant to Work With, According to Sources
- Donald Trump Mocked by Critics as He's Seen With Protrusion Under the Back of His Suit in Viral Clip: 'That's a Big Diaper'
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
The Briefing Room Is Not CNN
A veteran campaign operative questioned whether Scott Jennings’ television background would translate to the briefing room.
Veteran campaign operative Christopher Lee, founder of Foresight Strategic Advisors, said the shift from traditional press secretary to TV personality is relatively recent.
With rare exceptions, Lee said press secretaries have mostly “come from the winning presidential campaign, a high-profile Capitol Hill office (usually on the Senate side), or in some cases, cabinet department press operation.”
“The job runs on years, even decades, of personal relationships with reporters, editors, and outlets,” he explained.
“Not so for Donald Trump, whose frame of reference for a White House spokesperson comes from either Fox News, cable television, or the movies,” he added.
“[Jennings’] reputation inside the Beltway is as an arrogant political opportunist, not a smart, focused political professional,” Lee suggested. “For all his CNN airtime, Jennings has a dicey reputation at best with D.C. media and he isn’t really that camera-ready.”
Testing the Name
Several other prominent names were reportedly considered for the position.
Other names reportedly in the mix include Alina Habba, Anna Kelly, Kari Lake, Katie Miller, Steven Cheung, Taylor Budowich and Matthew Boyle. Prediction market Kalshi has also listed Roma Daravi, Lara Trump and Natalie Harp among possible contenders.
“Floating a recognizable name tests the temperature of the base before anyone commits to anything,” Philip said of the rumor cycle. If Jennings gets the job, however, he will have his work cut out for him.
“On a panel, your job is to win the segment,” Philip said. “At a podium, your job is to hold a position that has to survive weeks of follow-up.”
