Five contenders vie to become Trump's next White House press secretary

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt answers reporters' questions at a press briefing at the White House on Monday. [UPI]

The sudden resignation of White House press secretary Caroline Levitt has set off a race to determine who will become Donald Trump's next public voice. At least five names have emerged as potential successors — ranging from current White House communications officials to a former personal attorney for the president — as behind-the-scenes jockeying intensifies.

According to the Guardian, after Trump announced that Levitt would resign by the end of this month, the names of White House communications director Steven Cheung, former New Jersey federal prosecutor Alina Habba, White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) communications director Katie Miller, and former White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich have all surfaced as candidates. No official successor has been named.

White House communications director Steven Cheung stands before reporters at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania. [Getty Images]

Among those mentioned first as a potential successor is communications director Steven Cheung.

Cheung worked closely alongside Levitt since the start of Trump's second term. After news of Levitt's departure broke, Cheung publicly praised her tenure, and Levitt responded on social media, writing that the two had "navigated countless news cycles together."

Alina Habba speaks to reporters outside the White House in 2025. [EPA]

Alina Habba, who served as Trump's personal attorney, is also considered a leading candidate.

Habba built a reputation as one of Trump's most loyal allies by representing him in numerous legal battles, before briefly serving as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey. A federal court ruled her appointment unlawful, forcing her out of the role, but she has since remained a frequent presence on conservative media, where she has continued to defend Trump. The New York Post, citing administration officials, named Habba as one of the top contenders.

An internal promotion is also seen as a possibility. Principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly currently handles White House communications directly under Levitt. Kelly served as a Trump campaign spokesperson during the 2024 presidential election and previously worked in media relations at the Republican National Committee, giving her deep familiarity with the Trump team's messaging strategy.

Katie Miller in the White House Oval Office in 2025. [Getty Images]

Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, has also entered the conversation. She served as communications director for DOGE, the government efficiency initiative led by Elon Musk during Trump's second term, and was press secretary to then-Vice President Mike Pence during the first Trump administration. She currently hosts a conservative podcast on which she interviews Trump administration officials and right-wing figures.

Taylor Budowich, a longtime Trump ally, is also being mentioned. He served as White House deputy chief of staff overseeing communications and personnel before moving to the private sector last year. Budowich and Levitt were both named as defendants in a lawsuit the Associated Press filed after the administration barred an AP reporter from the White House over the outlet's refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."

The selection of Levitt's successor is drawing added attention given that it comes roughly three months before the November midterm elections. Levitt became the youngest White House press secretary in history when she took the role at age 27 in 2025, clashing with traditional media while aggressively leveraging social media and conservative outlets to amplify Trump's message. Observers say the choice of her replacement could signal a shift in the White House's media strategy heading into the midterms.

sjy@heraldcorp.com