Trump, Wiles Weigh 2 Candidates for White House Press Secretary

Q: Who are the two mystery candidates secretly being considered to take over the demanding White House press secretary role?

They have not been publicly identified. Susie Wiles said only that she and President Donald Trump have privately discussed two possible candidates, and the White House has not released their names. Reporting on possible successors has pointed to a wider pool of contenders rather than confirming Wiles’ two picks. The names most often mentioned in credible coverage include Alina Habba, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, communications director Steven Cheung, former aide Katie Miller, former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle and commentator Scott Jennings. Among that broader field, Habba has been described in several reports as an early frontrunner, while Kelly and Cheung are viewed as strong internal options because they already work in the White House communications operation. But those characterizations remain speculative unless the White House confirms them. So the factual answer is that the “two mystery candidates” are still unknown. At this stage, any specific names are informed media speculation, not officially disclosed finalists.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 15

Two candidates have been privately discussed for the next White House press secretary, Susie Wiles said Friday, with the administration aiming to fill the post in the coming weeks.
Trump and his chief of staff are leading the search for the new chief spokesperson, signaling the decision remains closely held inside the West Wing.
The planned hire would install a new public face for the White House at a time when the administration is preparing its next phase of messaging.