Alina Habba rules herself out of replacing Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary

Alina Habba has moved quickly to dismiss growing speculation about a possible move to the White House press briefing room, making it clear that she is not seeking to replace Karoline Leavitt as press secretary.

The rumours gathered momentum after bettors on prediction market Kalshi placed Habba among the leading contenders to succeed Leavitt, who is expected to leave the role at the end of August. But Habba's response on Wednesday appeared designed to end the discussion before it gained further traction.

Habba responds as betting odds fuel speculation

Habba said she was flattered by the attention but made clear that she was not pursuing another position.


Taking a swipe at anonymous reports while addressing the speculation, she said she was “not in the running for any job,” effectively removing herself from the increasingly watched race to become President Donald Trump's next White House press secretary.


At one point, Kalshi bettors had given Habba a 35% chance of landing the role. Her denial, however, quickly reshaped the odds surrounding Leavitt's potential successor.

Karoline Leavitt's departure has opened up a major question

Leavitt, 28, announced earlier this month that she would step down from the press secretary position at the end of August after returning from maternity leave, saying she wanted to spend more time with her two young children.

Her upcoming departure has triggered intense speculation over who Trump could choose for one of the most visible communications jobs in his administration.

The next press secretary will inherit a particularly high-profile role, serving as the administration's public voice during daily briefings and acting as a key link between the White House and the media.

Why Alina Habba's name entered the conversation

Habba was already a familiar figure in Trump's political and legal circle long before her name appeared in the latest round of speculation.

She previously served as Trump's personal attorney and was a prominent surrogate during his 2024 presidential campaign. Following Trump's return to the White House, she worked briefly as counselor to the president before serving as interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.

After a court ruling found her subsequent service as acting U.S. attorney unlawful, Habba resigned from that position and later became senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys.

Her close association with Trump and her experience as a frequent media presence made her a natural name for prediction markets and political observers to consider. Habba had also been mentioned as a possible press secretary before Leavitt was selected after Trump's 2024 election victory.

Scott Jennings and Anna Kelly emerge as names to watch

With Habba publicly ruling herself out, attention has shifted to other possible candidates.

CNN political commentator Scott Jennings moved into the lead in the Kalshi market following Habba's statement, while Anna Kelly, Leavitt's deputy, was also among the names being closely watched.

Jennings, who previously worked in the George W. Bush administration, had reportedly been considered for the role before Leavitt was ultimately chosen. Trump has also publicly praised Jennings in recent months.

The White House had not announced Leavitt's replacement at the time of publication, leaving the race for one of Washington's most prominent communications roles wide open.