What To Know
- Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary at the end of August.
- Speculation has arisen that CNN commentator Scott Jennings may replace Leavitt in the role.
- CNN’s Kaitlan Collins cornered Jennings about the rumors on Thursday’s The Source.
CNN’s Scott Jennings was cornered on Thursday’s (August 13) edition of The Source with Kaitlan Collins about whether he would be taking over from Karoline Leavitt as the new White House press secretary.
President Donald Trump announced Leavitt’s departure on social media on Wednesday (August 12), noting that she will leave her role to spend time with her young children and family, “a decision I totally understand and respect.”
Soon after, speculation spread that Jennings was in line for the role, with The Daily Beast reporting that the conservative commentator was the frontrunner. On Thursday, Collins asked Jennings about the situation and whether the rumors were true.
“I have to ask you because the White House announced yesterday Karoline Leavitt is leaving as press secretary. Your name keeps getting floated, which I‘m sure you’ve seen. Have you heard anything from the White House on that job opening?” Collins asked.
Jennings responded, “I don‘t really have anything to say about it other than, I mean, I would get to see you every day, and I would think you’d be happy about this.”
“I already see you every day,” Collins replied.
“Not really, we see each other one or two days a week,” Jennings added. “But can you imagine, every single day, getting to go to work where I am? This should be an amazing thing for you.”
Collins again noted, “We already work together, Scott… But that’s not a no.”
Jennings laughed it off, adding, “I’m not here every day.”
He similarly dodged the question the night before on CNN NewsNight, brushing off any suggestion that he take over the role and instead used the opportunity to praise Leavitt. Jennings described her as “maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least.”
Paul Begala, who worked under Bill Clinton as a White House strategist, also appeared on The Source and said the press secretary role is a “thankless job” and he doesn’t “wish it on anybody… I especially don’t wish it on Scott, because he’s my friend.”
Jennings, a long-time MAGA mouthpiece and Trump defender, previously served as a special assistant to the president and deputy director of political affairs during the George W. Bush administration. He also worked as an advisor for Senator Mitch McConnell.
Leavitt, who welcomed her second child with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, in May, is set to exit the role at the end of the month. In her own X statement, she described her job as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime.”
The Source With Kaitlan Collins, Weeknights, 9/8c, CNN