JD Vance Dismisses Maria Bartiromo Press Secretary Talk After 12.5-Year Fox Exit

Q: If not Bartiromo, who is the mystery candidate waiting to fill the vacant White House press secretary role?

No one has been publicly identified yet. The White House has said no decision has been made on who will replace Karoline Leavitt, and JD Vance’s comment effectively ruled out Maria Bartiromo as the pick, at least for now. Based on reporting from multiple outlets, the names most often mentioned as possible contenders are Alina Habba, Trump’s former lawyer and onetime presidential counsellor; Anna Kelly, the current deputy press secretary; Scott Jennings, a conservative commentator with prior White House experience; Tricia McLaughlin, a former Homeland Security spokesperson; Katie Miller, a former Trump and Pence communications aide; and Matthew Boyle of Breitbart. Other names that have surfaced in broader speculation include Steven Cheung, Monica Crowley, Elizabeth Pipko, Roma Daravi, Jason Miller, Harrison Fields, Sage Steele and Lara Trump. What is clear is that the job remains vacant. Vance handled the Sept. 3 briefing as a stand-in, and the administration has recently relied on senior officials rather than naming an immediate replacement. Some reports suggest the White House could continue with that arrangement temporarily, possibly until after the midterms, though that remains unconfirmed. So the “mystery candidate” is still just that: a matter of speculation. The strongest public evidence points not to Bartiromo, but to a small circle of current aides, former administration figures and media allies already being floated in Washington.

Q: Could Bartiromo's abrupt exit signal a shocking career pivot entirely outside the realm of traditional broadcasting?

Yes, but there is no evidence yet that Maria Bartiromo is making a dramatic move outside traditional media. What is known is limited. Fox News Media said only that Bartiromo is leaving after 12½ years and wished her well in her “next chapter.” Her departure was immediate, her shows were quickly rebranded with rotating hosts, and she has not publicly explained her plans. Vice President JD Vance also knocked down one of the biggest rumors, saying he does not think she is headed to the White House as press secretary. That leaves room for speculation, including a pivot beyond television. Bartiromo has a long background in business journalism and strong name recognition in finance, so possibilities outside broadcasting could include advisory work, a business venture, writing, speaking, digital media, or a role tied to markets or corporate communications. But those are possibilities, not reported facts. Some reporting has suggested Fox’s decision may have been tied to internal disputes and legal or editorial issues rather than a planned career reinvention. Other reports note she had not appeared on air for weeks before the announcement, which points more to an internal break than to a clearly signaled new destination. For now, the abruptness of the exit makes a non-broadcasting pivot plausible, but not provable. The stronger takeaway is that her future is unknown, and any “shocking” next act remains speculation until Bartiromo or her representatives say more.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 3

JD Vance said “no, I don’t think so” when asked whether Maria Bartiromo could become White House press secretary after Fox News announced her abrupt departure.
Fox disclosed Sept. 3 that Bartiromo is leaving after 12½ years without giving a reason, fueling speculation because the press secretary post has been vacant since Karoline Leavitt stepped down in August.
Vance, acting as de facto press secretary at the first White House briefing in more than 40 days, said he had just seen the news and had not spoken to Bartiromo about her plans.
Bartiromo’s final “Mornings with Maria” aired Thursday, and Fox Business said the show will be replaced Friday by “Mornings with FOX Business” with rotating anchors.