CNN's Scott Jennings is holding secret sit-downs with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles about becoming the next press secretary.
The conservative pundit, who has become a fan favorite for his fiery takes on CNN panels, is reportedly considered the top candidate to take over for Karoline Leavitt, who plans to exit the podium at month's end. Leavitt, who gave birth to her second child with husband Nicholas Riccio back in May, announced she's stepping away to focus on her growing family.
But here's where it gets absolutely delicious. Jennings apparently started chatting with Wiles about the gig BEFORE Leavitt even told the public she was leaving. Let that sink in. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering was already in full swing while everyone else was still in the dark.
Three sources with knowledge of the selection process confirmed that Jennings has sat down with Wiles on multiple occasions. One insider revealed the two "speak often." Another dropped this bombshell: the position is "his if he wants it," adding pointedly, "he does."
The most recent known rendezvous? A weekend meal at Morton's steakhouse in Washington, D.C., just a stone's throw from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Nothing says power move quite like plotting your next career leap over a porterhouse.
Meanwhile, the competition was scrambling in a completely different state. While Jennings was wining and dining near the West Wing, rival candidates were reportedly jockeying for Donald Trump's attention at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club. One insider compared the chaotic scene to a reality show, saying, "They were all trying to get in front of him this weekend. It was like The Apprentice."
You truly cannot make this stuff up.
The White House officially denied that any meetings between Jennings and Wiles occurred. Jennings himself has stayed completely mum, refusing to confirm or deny anything, even when colleagues grilled him about it on live television.
Complicating matters further, insiders say Trump has expressed a preference for picking another woman for the role. That opens the door for several other names floating around, including DHS press secretary Katie Zacharia, former DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, RNC spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko, and Housing chief Bill Pulte.
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba was widely considered a frontrunner until she publicly squashed that speculation on Wednesday evening. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Breitbart's D.C. bureau chief Matthew Boyle, and former Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Davari are also said to be under consideration.
So the race remains officially unsettled, but the smoke signals coming from that Morton's steakhouse are pretty hard to ignore. Jennings may be keeping quiet publicly, but those private dinners with the president's top gatekeeper tell a very different story. Stay tuned, because this casting decision could drop any day now.
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