Daniel Wolfram
A new candidate has emerged as the frontrunner for the soon-to-be-vacant White House secretary position. The candidate and one of Trump’s closest confidantes broke bread at a DC steakhouse late last night.
It came as a shock within the Trump administration when current White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she would be stepping down at the end of the month.
Since then, there has been a mad scramble to figure out who will be the right person to replace the Trump loyalist before the important midterm election.
Apparently, an influential voice within Trump’s inner circle has found her perfect candidate. And he is a well-known conservative commentator on network television.
A job interview at a steakhouse
CNN reports that Scott Jennings is an early frontrunner to be the new press secretary for Trump in the White House.
Last night, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, met with Jennings at Mastro’s Steakhouse in downtown Washington, DC, to discuss the vacant position. The request was made by Trump himself.
When asked why the two were meeting at the steakhouse and why Wiles had taken such an interest in Jennings, a White House official said that “he’s competent and good on TV.”
Who is Scott Jennings?
While Scott Jennings’ name may not ring a bell to some, to others he is a face they see almost every night on TV.
He joined Cable News Network (CNN) in 2017 as a political contributor and appears on the network almost every night.
Critics in the media have called Jennings a “MAGA pundit” who is a staunch defender of Donald Trump and his administration. He is also known as CNN’s resident conservative voice.
Prior to joining CNN, Jennings worked as an aide to George W. Bush during his presidency. He was also an adviser to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell.
What the White House is looking for
This is not the first time Wiles and Jennings have met regarding the job. According to White House officials, they speak often, and officials claim that the job is his to lose.
But Jennings is not the only candidate. According to sources, there were many attempts from people in Trump’s orbit to get in front of him to advocate for the job at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“They were all trying to get in front of him this weekend. It was like The Apprentice,” one person said. “It reeks of desperation.”
How will CNN respond?
The news network originally founded by the late Ted Turner is in an awkward position as one of its talking heads is in prime position for a job in the White House. That opens up a ton of questions regarding conflicts of interest.
CNN has reached out to Scott Jennings for comment. He has yet to return his employer’s request.
However, he did provide a “no comment” to host Abby Phillip yesterday, before the steakhouse dinner, when asked about his candidacy for the job. Jennings is set to appear on CNN again tonight.
