Trump still hasn't picked Karoline Leavitt's replacement as Friday exit nears

WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump still has not chosen a replacement for Karoline Leavitt, leaving top administration officials to rotate through the White House briefing room as her departure nears.

Leavitt's last day is Friday, August 26, while her full team will remain and report to Communications Director Steven Cheung.

CBS News reported on Wednesday that the search remains unresolved, as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles continues to review potential replacements.

Top officials will rotate at the podium

Two administration officials told the outlet there are no front-runners yet.

Republican commentator Scott Jennings has been floated, but sources said he was unlikely to be the final choice, the report stated.

For now, the briefing room will be handled by top administration officials rather than White House press and communications staff.

Leavitt's team will stay in place, while executive assistant Kieghan Nangle will become a press wrangler, the report added. 

Leavitt announced she would leave after returning to work following the birth of her second child. 

She said she could not be “the best mom my two young children deserve” while giving the press secretary role the “constant time, energy, and attention” it requires.

The White House has described the job as demanding round-the-clock work. 

An official said, “Karoline’s departure is tied specifically to her recently becoming a mother of two,” adding that staff who joined during the campaign and early administration eventually cycle out, according to the report by the outlet.

Trump still faces other senior vacancies

Leavitt's unresolved replacement comes alongside the departure of James Braid, the White House's top liaison to Congress. Braid's last day is September 30, according to a person familiar with his plans, while no replacement has been announced for him either, Politico reported. 

The administration is also losing two legal aides as Trump prepares for potential congressional oversight and litigation if Democrats take control of Congress, according to the report. 

Trump announced that pardon attorney Ed Martin would leave for the private sector, joining White House counsel Dave Warrington in departing.

A former Trump first-term official said some staffers may be thinking about what comes after the administration. 

“People are thinking, ‘what are my post-administration business prospects?’” the person said, as per the report.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the broader staffing picture, saying, “This movement is bigger than any one staff member, and the president’s mission to make America greater than ever before will continue unabated.”

Karoline Leavitt will remain close to Trump

Trump announced Leavitt's departure two weeks earlier on Truth Social, saying she would remain “an influential voice within the Republican Party” as he works toward the midterm elections.

After leaving the White House, Leavitt is expected to return to MAGA Inc, Trump's super PAC, and remain a top outside adviser to the president. 

She has also told people she will be involved in additional activities that have not yet been announced.

The unresolved search has prompted discussion inside and around the White House about how difficult the press secretary position is to fill. 

One person close to the White House called it an issue of “marketability,” saying, “If you want a decent job downtown, you need to bounce now,” as per the report.

Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and former Bush White House aide, said loyalty and familiarity make replacements difficult.

“And so bringing somebody else new, there’s a learning curve and a comfort curve,” Troy said as per the report.