White House may skip naming a permanent Leavitt successor

President Trump’s abrupt announcement that Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House press podium has set off a guessing game over her replacement — but the administration’s own recent history suggests there may not be a traditional successor at all.

Mr. Trump said Wednesday that Ms. Leavitt will step down at the end of August, calling her “one of my most trusted aides” in a Truth Social post that also praised her work defending his administration. Ms. Leavitt, 28, said in a lengthy post on X that the decision was “bittersweet” and driven by the demands of raising her two young children.

The Truth Social post that broke the news did not name a replacement, and White House officials have since told reporters no decision has been made.

That silence carries a precedent. When Ms. Leavitt went on maternity leave earlier this year, the White House didn’t install a temporary press secretary at all. Instead, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other Cabinet officials rotated through Brady Briefing Room duty in her absence — a system some inside the building expect could become the default again, at least temporarily, rather than Mr. Trump elevating a single successor right away.

If Mr. Trump does eventually name a permanent replacement, the speculation so far points toward continuity picks. Anna Kelly, the current principal deputy press secretary and Ms. Leavitt’s second-in-command, is viewed as the most conventional choice to preserve the briefing operation. Other names circulating in Washington include White House communications director Steven Cheung, former deputy chief of staff for communications Taylor Budowich, and longtime aide Margo Martin.

The position itself gives Mr. Trump total latitude on timing: the White House press secretary does not require Senate confirmation, and the president alone decides who holds the podium — and when, or whether, to fill it.

For now, Ms. Leavitt is expected to remain in Mr. Trump’s orbit. The president said she would become one of his “top outside advisers” ahead of the midterm elections, while the briefing room waits to see whether her old job goes to someone new or simply goes dark for a while.