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By Anna Commander
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President Donald Trump is reportedly eyeing a man as his next press secretary, while prediction markets show the odds of both Scott Jennings, former adviser to President George Bush, and conservative commentator Ben Ferguson rising as potential picks for the role.
The exclusive report by Fox News Digital, citing a source close to the president, says many people have brought Ferguson's name up to Trump. According to the outlet, the source said that Trump's "instincts are to pick a man," adding, "Which many people have told him that's a good idea."
A second source told the outlet that Trump is planning on choosing a man to fill the role and Ferguson is a top choice.
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"POTUS is not sold on the idea," the source said about Ferguson, Fox News Digital reports. "I think it's safe to say [Ferguson is] pursuing the job, and the president is aware."
"The president keeps going back and forth on Scott Jennings," the source added, the outlet reports. "I don't think it will happen."
Ferguson hosts the Ben Ferguson Show and the Ben Fergu**son podcast and is a frequent Trump supporter on X.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email, Ferguson via Facebook and Jennings via his website on Tuesday for comment.
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What To Know
On Kalshi, Jennings chances of being named the next press secretary were 4 percent at 2 p.m. As of 4:56 p.m. ET, his odds have jumped to 11 percent. Ferguson's odds at 2 p.m. Tuesday were 2 percent; as of 5 p.m. ET, his odds are at 21 percent.
On Polymarket, Jennings' odds were at 2.6 percent around 12 p.m. ET. As of 5:45 p.m. ET, he rose to 20.5 percent.
The report and movement on prediction markets came one day after Trump held an impromptu White House press briefing alongside Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
“Let me ask you the big question: Dana, would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America?” Trump asked.
“Thank you for the offer, sir. I do not want to be involved in politics, no,” White replied.
Trump floated the idea of White being his next press secretary days earlier but later walked it back a bit on Monday, saying, “I was sort of kidding.”
The talk about the next press secretary takes place as the position has been left vacant after Katie Zacharia was fired last month. Zacharia held the position for five days.
Her tenure as press secretary drew criticism almost immediately after her first briefing, for her delivery amidst growing questions over her legal background. She defended her presentation previously telling Newsweek, “I am grateful to serve President Trump as Press Secretary, and I will diligently and effectively amplify his successful agenda.”
Craig Agranoff, political professor at Florida Atlantic University, told Newsweek via email on Tuesday when asked about the Fox News Digital report: "The report tracks with the pattern after her short tenure. Sources say Trump’s instinct is to pick a man, with Ferguson mentioned often and Jennings also in the mix, though the president has not locked in a choice."
Agranoff later added: "Recent press secretaries have mostly been women, so a male hire would stand out, but the practical test is competence and loyalty under pressure. The role still matters in the final 2 years. With a new Congress coming in and major issues still in play, the press secretary shapes how the White House frames its decisions and responds to criticism. A steady communicator helps the president control the narrative. A weak one forces him to fill the gap himself. Trump has managed without a permanent press secretary for stretches before. He can do it again, but filling the job with someone who performs well would reduce the daily burden."
Before Zacharia, Trump's first press secretary during his second term was Karoline Leavitt.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R. Thomas
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