If there’s one thing that President Donald Trump is fanatic about, it’s the adage that he who controls the message, controls the people. And according to insiders, he isn’t confident that Karoline Leavitt is doing a good job of maintaining his image and controlling the narrative anymore.
Rob Shuter’s substack recently reported that Trump has started to think about whether he needs to replace the White House press secretary because he is frustrated by how the media is portraying the Trump administration. “He’s not happy,” one source said. “And when he’s not happy, he starts looking at options.” And apparently, Scott Jennings‘ name keeps popping up.
‘Trump’s Not Happy’: The Don Looking to Oust Karoline Leavitt and Is Already Eyeing Replacements — After ‘Blaming Her Pregnancy for Distractions’ https://t.co/pKYC980AR1 pic.twitter.com/cWCDFSSNbO
— Radar Online (@radar_online) April 3, 2026
Although there hasn’t been any formal move to replace Leavitt, Trump has quietly sent out feelers because he may not think that she’s the right fit for the job anymore. Reportedly, these conversations are happening in the background, but nothing has officially been said. The closest when he recently joked during a press conference that Leavitt was doing a “terrible job,” and wondered if he should fire her.
“It’s classic Trump,” another insider said. “Everything comes down to performance — and perception.” And this is where Jennings would apparently be perfect for the job as a press secretary replacement.
Jennings isn’t part of the administration but he’s already a household name because he’s often seen on CNN. He’s widely known for defending Trump in real time, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Trump likes fighters,” the source said. “Scott goes on TV and defends him aggressively — that gets noticed.” Apparently, it’s unclear whether he’s formally being vetted for the role, or if he’s just being admired from a distance. But, his name is making the rounds because Trump may be thinking of hiring somebody who’s more like Jennings.
Scott Jennings reveals what he thinks went “unsaid” in President Trump’s speech tonight.
Here’s what he assumes is “happening in the background.”
“The way this is going to end is hostilities will cease at some point.”
“We’ll have some kind of diplomatic end that has to include… pic.twitter.com/JtoTqiBwsu
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 2, 2026
Trump’s frustration is also straying into personal territory. “He’s even blamed her pregnancy for distractions,” the source shared. Leavitt announced her second pregnancy in December 2025. She and her husband are expecting a sister for their son in May. In the meantime, Trump is reportedly “saying the focus isn’t where it needs to be.”
Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in history, and she has been loyal to Trump. She often goes head-to-head with journalists as she defends the presidents policies, and she rarely backs down.
Even though she is a staunch Trump follower, loyalty doesn’t mean control. “He thinks a new face could change the coverage,” one insider said. They added, “That’s how he sees it.”
While other names are also quietly under consideration, there is currently no official shortlist. For Trump, messaging and the optics have played a key role in his presidency. He wants to control the narrative and how people see him.
Karoline Leavitt, “Try and be the most well read person in every room that you are in”
“I try to be every day”
“But Donald Trump always is”
“He is always reading the papers and watching TV, he doesn’t miss anything anyone says”
So when is he running the country 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/F6uEKEdfc2
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) April 3, 2026
Recently, there have been two examples of how important the White House believes press images are of key figures in the Trump administration. When an “unflattering” photo of Leavitt was taken in late November, it was removed from press archives after they reached out and contacted AFP about it. Another example is that the press is no longer allowed to take photos of Pete Hegseth when he gives briefings on the operations in Iran, because a photo that was not to their liking was released in early March.
But for now, Leavitt remains in her position. And there is no signal for the White House that her role is up for grabs. But, things could change as Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi’s rapid removal proves. As one source said, “In Trump’s world, nothing is permanent.” “You’re only as good as today’s headlines,” they concluded.
