President Donald Trump’s search for a new White House press secretary has a familiar voice offering guidance: Karoline Leavitt.
The former press secretary says she has offered to help Trump choose his next spokesperson after her successor, Katie Zacharia, lasted just five days in the job.
“I’ve offered my help to the president to help him select someone who can serve him and the country well,” Leavitt told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Wednesday evening.
Leavitt left the White House on Aug. 27 to spend more time with her two young children. Now, she is sharing her experience as Trump weighs who should take over one of his administration’s most visible positions.
What Trump Needs At The Podium
Leavitt declined to reveal her private advice to the president. But she outlined the qualities she believes his next press secretary needs.
“Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump. He knows he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal, and who can go out there and put up a fight,” she told Fox News Digital.
The challenge, she explained, goes beyond performing well on television. Preparation is essential, and a candidate’s readiness may become clear only once that person faces the briefing room.
Leavitt said Trump continues to consider his options and that there is considerable interest in the position. She did not identify candidates or offer a timetable for a decision.
A Search Restarted After Five Days
The renewed search follows Zacharia’s abrupt departure after a rocky debut.
Trump announced her selection on Oct. 9. She began work Oct. 12 and held her first briefing the following day. By Oct. 16, her tenure was over.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had encouraged Zacharia to consider leaving after her initial appearance drew criticism. Speaking to reporters, the president said he had asked whether the role was right for her and argued that the media had treated her harshly.
Leavitt offered a candid assessment while wishing her successor well.
“We wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well,” she told Fox News Digital.
Advising Trump While Focusing On Family
Leavitt brings experience from both Trump’s campaigns and his White House. She worked in his first administration before becoming spokeswoman for his 2024 campaign and then press secretary at the start of his second term.
Her involvement in the search also shows that leaving the podium has not ended her conversations with the president.
But Leavitt made clear that her own priority remains her family. Asked about a potential future run for office in New Hampshire, she said she has no plans to pursue one.
“Right now I’m really focused on being a wife and a mother to my two very young children. That’s why I made the decision to leave Washington,” she told Fox News Digital.
For Trump’s next spokesperson, her advice is straightforward: understand the president’s policies, prepare thoroughly and be ready for the demands of the briefing room.
