Alina Habba, a senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys, publicly dismissed speculation on Wednesday that she would replace outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Habba stated on X that she was "flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job." Her remarks followed days of speculation fueled by prediction market data, which had placed her at the top of the odds for the position.
Leavitt announced on August 1 that she would leave her role at the end of the month to spend more time with her two young children. In a statement, Leavitt cited the demanding nature of the job as incompatible with her responsibilities as a mother, noting that balancing the role with motherhood had become unsustainable. She will remain a top outside adviser to President Donald Trump. Trump has not yet named a replacement.
Prediction market platform Kalshi had initially favored Habba for the role, with her odds peaking at 38% on Wednesday, followed by CNN commentator Scott Jennings at 28% and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly at 14%. However, after Habba’s statement, her odds fell sharply to 8.3% by 10:50 p.m. ET, while Jennings’ odds rose to 37% and Kelly’s to 24%.
Habba, who previously served as interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey and as counselor to the president, has been a prominent figure in Trump’s legal and political circles. She resigned from her acting U.S. attorney role in 2024 after a federal appeals court ruled her appointment unlawful. Trump has indicated a preference for a male press secretary, according to reporting from NOTUS, though no official decision has been made.
The White House has not provided further details on the selection process or timeline for naming Leavitt’s successor. The position remains open as the administration navigates the transition ahead of the midterm elections.