Trump faces near-impossible task of replacing Karoline Leavitt

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DC Bureau: Leavitt steps down v2

DC Bureau: Leavitt steps down v2

President Trump is facing what many are describing as the impossible task of replacing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt following news of her decision to step down. 

Leavitt is considered an indispensable member of the administration, playing a key role in Trump’s inner circle while working as one of the White House’s lead messengers. 

The president announced her departure on Wednesday. She’ll leave at month’s end.

Republicans, and even a number of Democrats, say Leavitt’s departure is a major loss for the White House as Trump seeks to bolster his party in its bid to keep control of the House and the Senate in the midterms. 

“It’s a definite loss. She’s been there since Day 1 of the campaign,” one former White House official said. “She’s been the messenger since then.” 

One Democratic operative said “game respect game” when asked about Leavitt’s performance as press secretary.

“She was always on message, and she was always aggressively defending her boss,” the Democratic operative said. “That is what you want in a press secretary.”

Mike Dubke, who worked as White House communications director under Trump in 2017,  said he would not be surprised if the vacancy left by Leavitt remains open for a while. 

“The president, of course, is his own best press secretary,” Dubke said. “Unlike past departures, there is seemingly no one waiting in the wings to fill Leavitt’s shoes.” 

A second former White House official said there does not seem to be a huge rush to fill Leavitt’s shoes. 

The White House has given no indication of who Leavitt’s replacement might be, but several names have already been floated as her heir........

© The Hill