Why Alina Habba's name keeps coming up as Leavitt's replacement for Trump's press secretary

WASHINGTON, DC: Karoline Leavitt’s decision to step down as White House press secretary has once again put Alina Habba at the center of speculation over who could take over the briefing room podium.

Leavitt, 28, announced that she will leave the role at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump praised her as one of his “most trusted aides” and called her “one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”

Now, Habba, Trump’s former personal lawyer and one of his most prominent defenders, has once again emerged as a possible replacement.

Alina Habba once rejected press secretary role

Habba was already being discussed for the White House press secretary position in November 2024, before Trump returned to office.

At the time, she initially appeared open to the possibility. During a Fox News appearance with Sean Hannity, Habba was asked repeatedly about reports that she was a front-runner for the role and said she would “very seriously” consider the opportunity.

But only days later, she appeared to rule herself out. “While I am flattered by the support and speculation, the role of Press Secretary is not a role I am considering,” Habba wrote on X.

She then added a joking line that has become particularly interesting in hindsight: “Although I love screaming from a podium I will be better served in other capacities.”

Habba also suggested that her children were part of the decision-making process.

“I leave it to the president and the three people that are on my board of directors - that’s Luke, Chloe and Parker, my children. Everybody will know in time,” she told Hannity.

Karoline Leavitt eventually got the job.

Alina Habba became Trump's White House counselor 

Instead of becoming Donald Trump's press secretary, Habba became a White House counselor and later moved to the Justice Department, where she was appointed interim US attorney for New Jersey.

Her path into Trump’s political circle had already made her a familiar face to his supporters. Habba became one of Trump's most prominent defenders during his legal battles and regularly appeared on television arguing his case.

Her tenure as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, however, later became complicated by a court battle over her eligibility to serve in the position.

The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that Habba had been unlawfully serving as US attorney after the Trump administration installed her in an acting role when her nomination was rejected by a district court.

The appellate judges found that the temporary appointment, which bypassed Senate confirmation, violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Habba subsequently resigned from the position.

She said her decision was made “to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love.” “But do not mistake compliance for surrender,” she wrote, adding that her fight would now stretch “across the country.”

Alina Habba's personal life changed significantly 

There is also a more personal aspect of Habba’s story that makes her renewed appearance in the conversation particularly noteworthy.

After leaving her New Jersey position, Habba divorced her husband, Gregg Reuben, after nearly six years of marriage, according to the information provided. She also relocated to Palm Beach, Florida.

The move placed her close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Habba, who rose to prominence after Trump hired her in 2021, is now physically much closer to the president than she was when she first turned down the press secretary role.

Why Alina Habba is a top contender now

Habba has one obvious advantage if Trump wants a familiar and forceful voice: she has spent years publicly defending him. 

But her record also raises questions about how naturally she would fit the press secretary role.

During the E Jean Carroll defamation case involving Trump, Habba was frequently reprimanded by the judge for her courtroom conduct, including being argumentative and violating basic rules of court.

That stands out because the press secretary's job demands a different skill set, controlled answers, discipline under pressure, and the ability to handle hostile questioning without losing the message.

That contrast makes Habba’s potential return more compelling than a simple succession story. Prediction markets such as Kalshi have also priced Habba as one of the leading contenders for the role.

For now, however, Trump has not confirmed who will replace Leavitt.