White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt is stepping down from her position to spend more time with her family. US President Donald Trump announced the decision in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday.

Leavitt has been popular among Trump supporters and has been praised as one of the president’s “most trusted aides.” However, she has also faced strong criticism from opponents over allegations of spreading misinformation and restricting press freedom. Following the announcement of her departure, several names have emerged as potential contenders to become the White House’s next spokesperson.

One of the early frontrunners is Alina Habba, Trump’s former personal attorney. Habba represented Trump in the 2024 hush-money case, and Trump himself had praised her unwavering loyalty. She was later appointed interim US attorney for New Jersey, a position the Trump administration fought to preserve amid challenges involving the courts and Senate.

Another prominent contender is Scott Jennings, a well-known political commentator on CNN. A former aide in the George W. Bush administration, Jennings was initially a critic of Trump. However, after becoming a vocal defender of Trump on CNN, he earned considerable praise from the president.

Matthew Boyle, Washington bureau chief of the right-wing media outlet Breitbart, is also reportedly among the potential candidates. Boyle is personally known to Trump.

The list also includes Katie Miller, a former communications director for former Vice President Mike Pence and a figure associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). She is the wife of Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller.

Meanwhile, Anna Kelly, the current White House deputy press secretary who has worked under Leavitt, is also considered one of the leading contenders for the position.