Karoline Leavitt Says President Donald Trump Has a Short List to Replace Her as White House Press Secretary, Without Naming Names

Karoline Leavitt, the outgoing White House press secretary, said President Donald Trump has a short list of names to replace her but would not disclose any of the individuals under consideration, according to an interview and remarks reported by The Washington Times on August 27, 2026.

Leavitt, who has served as the White House’s primary spokesperson for press inquiries and daily briefings, framed her comments around the transition process, telling reporters that the president has already narrowed the field but that she would not share details publicly, the report said.

The comments come as Leavitt’s tenure as press secretary reaches its endpoint, leaving the White House to fill a communications role that is closely tied to how the administration conducts briefings and responds to daily questions from the press corps.

White House press secretary transitions often affect the cadence of on-camera briefings, the division of responsibilities among communications staff, and the administration’s approach to clarifying policy decisions in real time, particularly during periods when multiple agencies are issuing frequent updates.

Leavitt did not provide additional specifics about timing or the formal steps that would follow, and the report did not identify who, if anyone, could be expected to take over immediately. The outgoing press secretary also declined to name potential replacements, leaving the identities of any candidates undisclosed.

With the replacement not publicly specified, the next step for the White House is to formally designate a new press secretary and communicate the change to reporters covering the administration. Until then, questions about briefings and day-to-day press access remain tied to whatever interim coverage arrangements the communications operation implements.