President Donald Trump hasn’t announced who will replace outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, but one potential contender is already facing resistance from inside the MAGA movement.
CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as one of the most closely watched names surrounding the high-profile White House opening. Yet according to The New York Post, some Trump allies are attempting to block Jennings from getting the job because of his longtime relationship with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
“It’s not going to be him,” one person described as close to the administration told the newspaper.
The reported opposition could complicate Jennings’ chances at a job requiring something Trump has consistently valued from the people representing him publicly: loyalty.
But Jennings also possesses an asset few potential candidates can match. After years of debating liberals on CNN, he has demonstrated an ability to defend conservative positions while facing hostile questions in front of a national television audience.
That leaves Trump with an interesting choice.
Scott Jennings’ Mitch McConnell History Comes Under Scrutiny
Jennings, 48, has deep roots in Kentucky Republican politics and has openly discussed his relationship with McConnell.
He studied at the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville and later managed McConnell’s successful 2002 Senate reelection campaign.
Jennings recently went even further in describing their relationship, calling McConnell “my mentor” during a television appearance and crediting the longtime senator with changing the trajectory of his life.
For many Republicans, that background would ordinarily be considered a significant political credential.
Inside Trump’s MAGA movement, however, it could be viewed very differently.
Trump and McConnell have endured a turbulent relationship marked by disagreements over the direction of the Republican Party. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Kentucky senator, while McConnell has opposed or questioned some elements of Trump’s political agenda.
That history is one reason Jennings’ close association with McConnell is reportedly receiving new attention as Trump considers Leavitt’s replacement.
Jennings’ Past Trump Criticism Is Resurfacing
Jennings’ relationship with McConnell isn’t the only issue attracting attention.
Comments Jennings made following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot are also resurfacing.
In an opinion article published by CNN at the time, Jennings placed responsibility for the unrest on Trump and accused the president of misleading supporters about the 2020 election.
Jennings also used extraordinarily strong language when describing people involved in the Capitol breach, calling them “domestic terrorists” and arguing that the federal government should respond forcefully.
Those remarks stand in stark contrast to Trump’s own position.
After returning to the White House, Trump granted sweeping clemency to January 6 defendants, making the treatment of those cases a major part of his effort to reverse policies from the Biden era.
For Trump’s most committed supporters, Jennings’ previous statements could therefore represent more than an old political disagreement.
They raise a larger question about whether someone who once condemned Trump so forcefully should now become one of the administration’s most important public defenders.
Jennings Responds to the Controversy
Jennings doesn’t appear eager to engage publicly in the dispute.
When The New York Post contacted him for comment, he reportedly responded with a GIF featuring Patrick Swayze’s character from the 1989 movie “Road House.”
The caption read simply: “Opinions vary.”
That brief response is unlikely to end the debate.
Jennings has become increasingly popular among conservatives because of his appearances on CNN, where he regularly challenges Democratic politicians, liberal commentators and criticism of the Trump administration.
His supporters could argue that his recent record should matter more than statements made five years ago.
And Trump has already demonstrated that past criticism isn’t necessarily disqualifying.
JD Vance Shows Trump Can Forgive Former Critics
Vice President JD Vance provides the most obvious example.
Long before becoming Trump’s running mate in 2024, Vance was a prominent critic of Trump and made several harsh comments about him during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Years later, the relationship changed dramatically.
Vance became one of Trump’s strongest defenders, won election to the U.S. Senate and was eventually chosen as Trump’s vice-presidential running mate.
That transformation suggests Jennings’ past criticism doesn’t automatically remove him from consideration.
The more important question may be whether Trump believes Jennings has demonstrated sufficient loyalty since then — and whether his television skills outweigh objections from MAGA activists.
White House Says There Is No Frontrunner
Despite intense speculation surrounding Jennings, the White House reportedly hasn’t settled on a favorite.
“It’s an open book,” a senior administration official told The Post. “There are no favorites or preconceived ideas.”
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly met with Jennings over the weekend, indicating that he has at least received serious attention.
However, officials stressed that Wiles has spoken with several other people as the administration considers its options.
Trump may also be taking his time because replacing Leavitt isn’t an ordinary personnel decision.
Replacing Karoline Leavitt Won’t Be Easy
Leavitt became one of the most recognizable members of Trump’s second administration and developed a reputation for aggressively defending the president during White House briefings.
Her departure at the end of August creates a difficult opening to fill.
The White House press secretary doesn’t merely deliver announcements.
The person standing behind the podium must routinely answer aggressive questions, respond immediately to breaking news and defend presidential decisions before reporters who may strongly disagree with the administration.
Television presence is also critical.
Trump has spent decades understanding the power of television, and his administration’s communications strategy frequently relies on officials who can deliver concise arguments and respond quickly under pressure.
Jennings’ CNN experience could make him particularly appealing on that front.
But other candidates may have stronger relationships with Trump’s political base.
MAGA Allies Push Alternative Candidates
Several other names are reportedly receiving support from Trump loyalists.
Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly is among those being discussed. As a member of the existing communications operation, Kelly would offer continuity following Leavitt’s departure.
Chief of protocol Monica Crowley is another potential contender. Crowley has extensive experience in conservative media and previously served in Trump’s first administration.
Breitbart Washington bureau chief Matt Boyle has also reportedly been promoted by some MAGA allies.
Each candidate would bring a different style to one of Washington’s most visible positions.
Former Counselor to the President Alina Habba also became the subject of speculation after being spotted at Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey.
However, a source told The Post that there was no secret press-secretary meeting behind Habba’s visit.
Habba later addressed the rumors herself on social media.
“I’m not in the running for any job,” she wrote, while joking that she would appreciate anonymous sources informing her first if she were getting one.
Trump Could Pick a Man This Time
Trump has employed five press secretaries across his two presidential administrations: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, Kayleigh McEnany and Karoline Leavitt.
After Spicer’s departure during Trump’s first term, the next four press secretaries were women.
Sources cited by The Post say Trump is open to selecting a man this time.
That keeps Jennings firmly within the conversation despite the resistance reportedly coming from some MAGA figures.
And Jennings has continued building his credentials with Trump supporters.
Jennings Has Become a Prominent Trump Defender on CNN
Whatever conservatives think about Jennings’ earlier criticism of Trump, his television persona has changed considerably since 2021.
Jennings has become one of CNN’s most prominent conservative voices, frequently defending Trump administration policies and challenging arguments from Democrats and liberal commentators.
That role gives him something potentially valuable to the White House: experience defending conservative policies before an audience that doesn’t necessarily agree with him.
In recent days, Jennings has also publicly defended Trump and longtime Trump aide Natalie Harp amid criticism from Democrats.
Those appearances could strengthen the argument that Jennings has become a reliable advocate for the administration.
But for some MAGA loyalists, the question remains whether that is enough to erase his history with McConnell and his post-January 6 criticism of Trump.
Trump’s Decision Could Send a Bigger Message
The battle over Leavitt’s replacement is ultimately about more than who conducts the next White House press briefing.
Trump’s selection could provide another indication of what he values most as his second administration moves forward.
Does he choose someone with a long record inside the MAGA movement?
Does he prioritize television experience and the ability to battle mainstream media critics?
Or does he select someone who combines both?
Jennings clearly offers significant media experience, but his political past makes him a controversial choice among some of the president’s most dedicated supporters.
For now, no final decision has been announced.
Until Trump chooses a permanent replacement, the White House is expected to use a rotating group of officials to handle press briefings, similar to the approach used during Leavitt’s maternity leave.
Trump himself is also expected to continue taking questions directly from reporters, something he frequently does outside formal briefings.
But eventually, someone will have to permanently take Leavitt’s place behind the podium.
And if reports about opposition to Jennings are accurate, Trump may have to decide whether to listen to MAGA allies urging him to look elsewhere — or once again overlook a potential appointee’s past criticism and make the choice himself.
For Jennings, the stakes are clear: his years defending Trump on CNN may have put him in contention for one of the most visible jobs in Washington, but his political history could ultimately determine whether he gets it.