‘It reeks of desperation’: Trump’s press secretary race has a secret frontrunner
WASHINGTON, DC: Susie Wiles is reportedly backing Scott Jennings for White House press secretary, even as rival contenders compete directly for President Donald Trump’s attention, a report said.
Jennings, a CNN political commentator, has already met with White House chief of staff, Wiles, while Trump’s team has signaled a preference for a woman to replace Karoline Leavitt.
The courtship unfolded as Trump spent Saturday at his Bedminster golf club with several contenders seeking his attention, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday, August 19.
Wiles has reportedly backed Jennings
Three White House sources familiar with the selection process said Jennings met with Wiles before Leavitt formally announced her departure last Wednesday, the report said.
The pair were together again this weekend at Morton’s, according to a source who said they “speak often.”
The White House officially denies that any meetings took place.
“It’s his if he wants it,” one source close to Jennings said of the press secretary job. “And he does.”
Jennings, 48, is being courted by Wiles despite Trump’s reported preference for a woman at the podium, the report claimed.
The president is described as a fan of Jennings, who served as a George W Bush aide and has built a profile as a conservative defender on CNN.
Trump has previously praised Jennings’ ability to defend the administration.
At a campaign rally in Warren, Michigan, he told the crowd: “We have a man here that I don’t know, but he’s defending me all the time on CNN.”
Trump faces a crowded field
While Jennings was reportedly meeting Wiles, Trump spent Saturday at his New Jersey golf club with rival contenders including former attorney Alina Habba, real estate executive Bill Pulte and aide Natalie Harp.
One source informed about the weekend described the competition as “like The Apprentice” and said, “It reeks of desperation,” according to the outlet.
Other candidates named in the report include former Department of Homeland Security press secretary Katie Zacharia, former DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, Breitbart
Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle, RNC spokeswoman Elizabeth Pipko, White House communications chief Steven Cheung and former Kennedy Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi.
The selection is understood to likely come from outside the White House, keeping Jennings prominent among the reported contenders.
Jennings has broken with Trump
Jennings’ candidacy also comes despite instances in which he has publicly disagreed with Trump, including over speculation about a third presidential term.
“I am on the record of opposing violating the 22nd amendment of the constitution,” Jennings said on CNN, adding that Republicans know Trump’s presidency will not extend beyond 2028.
Still, Trump’s team reportedly views Jennings as a combat-ready media personality who can “hold his ground” against hostile reporters.
Leavitt’s departure last week triggered the scramble to replace her less than three months before crucial midterm elections in November.
She said returning to work soon after the birth of her second child had been “the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life.”
Insiders told the outlet that Leavitt had suffered “burnout” after returning to work, with one saying, “It was a constant stream of messages from him [during maternity leave] and it was overwhelming.”
