Alina Habba denies interest in replacing Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary

Alina Habba, a senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys, stated on Wednesday that she is not in consideration to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. Leavitt, who is currently on maternity leave, announced earlier this month that she would resign from her position at the end of August to spend more time with her children. Speculation about Habba's potential candidacy had increased, with bettors on the prediction market platform Kalshi giving her a 35% chance of being named Leavitt's successor. However, Habba dismissed the speculation in a post on X, expressing her gratitude for the consideration but clarifying that she is not pursuing the role. Following her statement, CNN political commentator Scott Jennings became the new favorite for the position, with Anna Kelly, Leavitt's deputy, also in contention. Jennings has previously been considered for the role after Trump's 2024 election victory.