Alina Habba, who served as President Trump's personal attorney, has publicly ruled herself out of contention for the role of White House press secretary, as the administration weighs who will succeed Karoline Leavitt.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Habba responded to speculation fueled by prediction markets, writing: "Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I'm not in the running for any job." She added, "However, if I'm getting a new one, I'd love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first."
Habba's name had surfaced among a list of potential candidates to take over the podium, a position that has drawn intense interest following Leavitt's announcement that she would step down later this month to focus on her family. Leavitt, who served as the sole press secretary during Trump's second term, recently welcomed a second child.
The race to fill the press secretary vacancy has been a topic of intense speculation in Washington, with the White House scrambling to identify a successor. Habba's statement, however, appears to remove one prominent name from the shortlist, though it remains unclear who else is under consideration.
Habba gained national prominence as a vocal defender of Trump during his post-presidency legal battles, which included cases related to his business dealings, handling of classified documents, and challenges to the 2020 election results. Her combative media appearances made her a familiar face in conservative circles.
In her social media post, Habba also took a swipe at the press, writing: "Fake news remains the undefeated champ... well... until I come at them."
The search for Leavitt's replacement comes amid broader personnel shifts within the administration. Some former Trump officials have expressed surprise at the timing, with one ex-spokesman calling the exit without a named successor "very surprising." Meanwhile, the president has been dealing with other staffing changes, including a recent GOP replacement in North Carolina's 11th District and a new initiative aimed at replacing illegal truckers with veterans.
As the administration moves forward, the question of who will step into the press secretary role remains open. Habba's clear statement, however, signals that she will not be the one facing the daily briefing room scrums.
