Jennings shrugs off reports about interest in press secretary job: ‘I don’t know what’s gonna happen’

Scott Jennings on Sunday downplayed reports that he is a favorite to succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary .

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Jennings said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

The CNN contributor added, “I don’t have anything to say about it this morning,” before calling Leavitt “one of the best press secretaries in the … modern era.”

CNN reported Thursday that Jennings, who worked for former President George W. Bush and has advised Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), was an early favorite for the press secretary gig.

During the 2024 presidential campaign and throughout President Trump’s second term, Jennings has frequently defended the president’s policies and decisions during appearances on CNN and while hosting his eponymous radio show.

Jennings and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles recently met at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Washington, D.C., according to CNN . The outlet noted that multiple White House staffers believe Jennings has backing from Wiles.

While Jennings deflected about his interest in the job, he praised Leavitt and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), as the latter was Trump’s press secretary during his first term.

“Whoever does that job [has] big shoes to fill,” he said.

CNN reported Thursday that Trump has told his team he is not in a rush to decide on a replacement for Leavitt, who will depart her role at the end of the month.

Leavitt said Friday she will return to Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC after leaving the administration. She was a spokesperson for the group before joining the president’s 2024 campaign.

On Friday, Trump claimed he had “never seen so many job applications” for the press secretary role and complimented Jennings .

“Scott Jennings is good,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.