One of the betting favorites to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary declared Wednesday that she is not in the running for the job.
The 28-year-old White House press secretary, fresh off maternity leave, announced earlier this month that she would end her tenure at the podium at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children.
As speculation continued to swirl over whom President Donald Trump would tap to succeed Leavitt, bettors on prediction market platform Kalshi began favoring Alina Habba for the role.
Habba, who serves as senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys, was previously floated for the position after Trump won re-election.
Bettors on Kalshi gave Habba a 35% chance of being named Leavitt’s replacement at the time before she publicly dismissed the speculation.
Habba, however, threw cold water on that idea.
“Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job,” Habba posted on X.
“However, if I’m getting a new one, I’d love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first,” she continued. “Fake news remains the undefeated champâ¦wellâ¦until I come at them.”
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When speculation emerged about Habba potentially becoming press secretary following Trump’s 2024 election victory, she said she was “flattered” by the consideration but believed she would “be better served in other capacities.”
Habba went on to serve just over two months as counselor to the president before being appointed interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. After a federal appeals court upheld a ruling that her subsequent service as acting U.S. attorney was unlawful, she resigned from the position and was later named senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys.
Habba also previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and was a high-profile surrogate during his 2024 presidential campaign.
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Following Habba’s post Wednesday, CNN political commentator Scott Jennings became the new betting favorite on Kalshi, followed by Leavitt’s deputy, Anna Kelly.
Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush, was also reportedly considered for the press secretary role after Trump won the 2024 election before Leavitt
