WASHINGTON — The idea of Scott Jennings walking into the White House briefing room with the microphone instead of sitting at CNN’s table apparently has Democrats nervous — or at least nervous enough to joke about it on national television.
And as of Friday morning, the possibility isn’t entirely a punchline.
Fox News now lists Jennings among several names being floated as possible replacements for outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, alongside figures including Alina Habba, Stephen Miller and White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. The White House has not announced a successor, and there is no confirmation that President Donald Trump has settled on Jennings — or anyone else.
But somebody forgot to tell CNN’s Bakari Sellers not to give Trump ideas.
During Wednesday night’s CNN NewsNight, Jennings’ fellow panelists began grilling him about whether he might trade his CNN contributor chair for the White House podium.
Jennings initially said “no,” then quickly left himself a little more room.
“I don’t know,” Jennings said.
That was enough for Sellers.
“Let me help, Scott,” Sellers joked. “Democrats are afraid of Scott Jennings becoming press secretary. There you go. Now you’ve got the job.”
Well.
If the objective was to discourage Trump from considering Jennings, “Democrats are afraid of him” may not have been the strongest sales pitch against the idea.
Jennings used most of the exchange not to audition for Leavitt’s job but to praise the woman leaving it. “Karoline Leavitt has been maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least,” Jennings said. “She’s been nothing short of brilliant.”
He added that he didn’t know “a single Republican in the country who isn’t in awe of and in appreciation of Karoline tonight,” before wishing her well as she returns to her family.
Leavitt announced Wednesday that she will leave the White House at the end of August after recently returning from maternity leave following the birth of her second child.
She explained that she had come to a difficult conclusion: “I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary.”
Trump said he “totally understand[s] and respect[s]” her decision and announced that Leavitt will remain in his orbit as a top outside adviser and Republican voice heading toward the November midterms.
Leavitt was just 27 when Trump selected her for the job and became the youngest White House press secretary in American history. Her departure now leaves Trump with the unenviable task of replacing one of his administration’s most recognizable — and combative — public defenders.
Jennings has carved out an unusual niche at CNN, the conservative who walks onto panels where he is frequently outnumbered and then calmly proceeds to say precisely the thing everybody else at the table wishes he wouldn’t.
That has made him one of the network’s most visible conservative voices and, perhaps inevitably, generated speculation about whether Trump might want him on his communications team.
Jennings was already reported to have been considered for press secretary following Trump’s 2024 victory. Now his name is circulating again, with Fox News including him in its latest look at the developing replacement scramble.
When CNN NewsNight guest host Lulu Garcia-Navarro asked Jennings directly about the opening Wednesday, he didn’t exactly launch a campaign for it — but he didn’t slam the door shut, either.
Which brings us back to Sellers. “Democrats are afraid of Scott Jennings becoming press secretary.” You can almost hear Trump reading that sentence and asking somebody for Jennings’ phone number.
MY QUICK TAKE:
Scott Jennings as White House press secretary would create a fascinating little problem for the Washington press corps.
They’re accustomed to seeing him surrounded five-to-one on CNN. Imagine their surprise when they discover the White House briefing room works the other way around.
Jennings has become effective on CNN because he generally doesn’t sound rattled when the table piles on. He waits, smiles, and then punctures the premise. That skill might come in handy in a room where reporters occasionally confuse asking questions with delivering closing arguments.
Is Jennings actually getting the job? Nobody knows yet. But if Democrats truly want to stop it, perhaps they should quit advertising how much the prospect bothers them. Trump has been known to enjoy that sort of endorsement.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Fox News — Scramble for Karoline Leavitt replacement ensues with just weeks until Trump spokesperson exits
- New York Post — Karoline Leavitt’s possible successors emerge after White House press secretary’s surprise departure
- Mediaite — CNN host straight-up asks Scott Jennings if he wants Karoline Leavitt’s job
- Reuters — Trump says press secretary Leavitt to leave job at month’s end
- CBS News — Karoline Leavitt exiting as White House press secretary, will serve as outside Trump adviser
