TV Star to Replace Karoline Leavitt?

A familiar face from CNN could soon be trading cable-news battles for the White House briefing room.

Conservative commentator Scott Jennings has reportedly emerged as a surprise frontrunner to replace Karoline Leavitt as President Donald Trump’s next White House press secretary, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Jennings, 48, has become one of the most recognizable pro-Trump voices on CNN, frequently clashing with liberal panelists while defending the president and Republican policies.

But his political résumé extends well beyond television.

Jennings previously served in the George W. Bush administration as a special assistant to the president and deputy director of political affairs. He has also worked as an adviser to longtime Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and helped on several of McConnell’s reelection campaigns.

Speculation surrounding Jennings intensified Wednesday night when he was directly asked on CNN’s “NewsNight” whether he wanted Leavitt’s job.

He did not exactly say no.

Instead, Jennings delivered glowing praise for the outgoing press secretary.

“Karoline Leavitt has been maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least,” Jennings said. “She’s been nothing short of brilliant.”

He added that Republicans across the country were grateful for her work and wished her well as she returned to spend more time with her family.

Leavitt, 28, is reportedly preparing to leave the White House at the end of August following the birth of her second child in May.

Her departure would leave Trump searching for someone capable of handling one of Washington’s most punishing jobs — defending the administration’s agenda while facing daily questioning from a frequently hostile press corps.

Jennings has already shown he is comfortable with confrontation.

His increasingly prominent CNN appearances have made him a favorite among many conservatives, particularly when he finds himself outnumbered on panels debating Trump’s policies and record.

Still, Jennings is far from the only name being discussed.

Trump’s former attorney Alina Habba is also reportedly under consideration. Habba became one of Trump’s most visible defenders during his New York civil fraud trial, repeatedly appearing before television cameras outside the courthouse to blast the case against him.

Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly could also be promoted from within. Kelly previously served as national press secretary for the Republican National Committee and is already familiar with the administration’s communications operation.

Other possibilities reportedly include former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and conservative media personality Katie Miller, the wife of senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller.

Miller previously worked in Trump’s first administration and later became involved with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

White House communications director Steven Cheung, former Trump communications official Taylor Budowich and Breitbart Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle have also been floated as possible contenders.

But prediction markets are telling a slightly different story.

On Kalshi, Roma Daravi — vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center — was listed as the leading contender with roughly a 24 percent chance of becoming Trump’s next press secretary.

Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and wife of Eric Trump, was close behind at 23 percent.

Natalie Harp, a longtime Trump aide who has remained closely associated with the president, was also listed at 23 percent.

Habba and Kelly rounded out the leading names at roughly 22 percent each.

For now, Trump has no shortage of loyal and media-savvy Republicans to choose from.

But Jennings would arguably represent one of the more dramatic choices.

After spending years battling Trump critics across the table at CNN, he could soon be standing behind the White House podium and taking them on directly.