'Lame duck' Trump seeks 'bulldog' replacement for Karoline Leavitt as Democrats 'smell blood'
'Lame duck' Trump seeks 'bulldog' replacement for Karoline Leavitt as Democrats 'smell blood'
Reanna SmithSun, August 16, 2026 at 7:34 AM UTC
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Trump will be looking for a 'more combative' press secretary to replace Leavitt, according to a PR expert -Credit:AFP via Getty Images
Donald Trump will be looking for a "bulldog" press secretary who can take on a "more combative" approach than Karoline Leavitt following her surprise departure, according to a PR expert.
The president announced on Wednesday that Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of the month "so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family." Her resignation comes just a month after she returned from maternity leave, during which she had no official replacement.
Leavitt's departure will also fall less than three months before the midterms, leaving the White House facing the tough task of quickly replacing her. "I'm sure they're trying to figure out who can replace her, and really, in many ways, she was irreplaceable," David E. Johnson the CEO and founder of Strategic Vision PR Group, told the Mirror US.
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Johnson, who has worked on Republican campaigns going back to 1986, noted that Leavitt "understood" Trump better than many and was a "great reader" of the often unpredictable president. "We all know he might tweet something early in the morning and by afternoon change policy completely, and she was unflappable in being able to convey this in a way that seemed coherent and rational to people," he said.
But while Leavitt was known for her combative style, Johnson said Trump will likely choose someone even more aggressive in their approach to replace her.
Leavitt was a 'good reader' of Trump, but the president needs a 'bulldog,' Johnson said -Credit:Getty Images
"We're going to see a new approach by the news media and by Democrats after the midterms. It's going to be far more aggressive, far more combative," he said. "The Trump administration's going to need someone who's really a bulldog and a fighter," Johnson noted.
"They'll look for someone who is going to be even-keeled, who has great communication skills and can really give one-liners and be combative," he added.
Asked whether Trump could select someone prone to the same name-calling behavior as himself, Johnson agreed. "I really do. I think, in fact, the president might want that. I think he wants a more combative style."
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"We know he's very combative with the Democrats. He knows it's going to be nonstop, and even if the Democrats fail to capture Congress, we're going to be in a nonstop campaign mode going into 2028 because he's a lame-duck president. And the Democrats will be smelling blood, thinking that they can recapture the White House," he explained.
"So he's going to want someone who can really carry the battle to the Democrats," Johnson added. The more belligerent approach isn't the only change that Johnson predicts under the next press secretary.
Scott Jennings could be 'very good' for the role, Johnson said -Credit:CNN
"I think we're going to see a more isolated White House and a more isolated approach. It's going to be in campaign mode, nonstop, and they're not really going to try to build any outreach with the traditional media," he said, noting that Leavitt's replacement will likely build on the way that she brought in "new media," including far-right YouTubers and podcasters.
As for who will take over the role, Johnson revealed there are several likely contenders. "Knowing the president, he usually prefers female press secretaries, if you look at the record. Although one interesting possibility that's been mentioned quite a bit is Scott Jennings, the CNN commentator," he said.
"He definitely could handle the media. He's very good. The question would be his connection with Mitch McConnell, and the president might not like that," Johnson noted.
He named Katie Miller as another option -Credit:Getty Images
"I would also think, too, Katie Miller, Stephen Miller's wife, would be in the mix, Monica Crowley as well. And one name that I've heard that a lot of people think would be very good is Rachel Campos-Duffy, the Fox host and wife of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. And I think she fills a lot of the points that Donald Trump's looking for," the PR expert went on.
Johnson also said that aides, including Natalia Harper or Margo Martin, would also "have what it takes" as he acknowledged that Trump will likely select someone he's "comfortable with" and "loyal."
"That's the one thing Donald Trump wants more than anything, is loyalty," he said. However, Johnson also suggested that Trump could go for someone more surprising.
Johnson even suggested Trump could surprise everyone by having Sean Hannity replace Leavitt -Credit:AFP/Getty Images
"The one thing we know with Donald Trump, too, is he likes to surprise people. So he may have a name already that's going to be a total surprise and isn't on anyone's radar," he said. "Maybe he'll announce Sean Hannity's leaving Fox to be his press secretary. Stranger things have happened."
Trump has not yet outlined plans for who will replace Leavitt, but said in his post announcing her resignation that her decision to leave is one “I totally understand and respect!”
“Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections,” the president added.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
