Is CNN’s Scott Jennings Set to Replace Katie Zacharia? Here’s What He Said

After Katie Zacharia was ousted as White House press secretary last week after just five days on the job, eyes are back on former frontrunner for the position, CNN’s Scott Jennings.

The conservative commentator was previously reported as a favorite for the role after former press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her departure in August. The Daily Mail reported that Jennings even met with President Trump‘s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, about taking on the position.

Ultimately, the job went to legal advice pundit Zacharia, who made her briefing room podium debut last Tuesday (October 13). Zacharia faced criticism for her stilted delivery and for fielding only three questions, as well as for referring to herself as a lawyer despite not having passed the bar exam. On Friday (October 16), she was fired.

Speaking on CNN’s The Source, Jennings shared his thoughts on what the president should look for in his next press secretary, and raised a few eyebrows with his comments. “My advice to him would just be to get the most qualified person you can get with the most experience,” the MAGA mouthpiece said, per Mediaite.

Jennings: I think you want somebody with as much experience, maybe who’s been around D.C. a little bit, has TV experience

CNN: Scott, given that your name was on the short list prior, were you making a pitch for yourself just then?

Jennings; Oh, me? No, I wouldn’t negotiate my personal prospects with you here on television,

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 17, 2026

“Somebody who can stand behind that podium with credibility and not just carry your message, but also handle the incoming that is sure to come,” Jennings continued, referring to the “hostile environment” the administration could face if they “don’t do well in the midterms.”

He added, “There’s the short-term issue of a political messenger, but then there’s the next couple of years as [Trump] fights for his own legacy and fights to leave a mark as he exits the presidency.”

Jennings said the press secretary will be “right in the middle,” and so Trump needs “somebody with as much experience, who has maybe been around D.C., and has TV experience… And maybe a little management experience because that office does have a pretty big staff.”

CNN’s Jim Sciutto noted that Jennings’ name was on the short list earlier this year and asked if he was “making a pitch” for himself.

“Oh, me?” Jennings replied. “No, I wouldn’t negotiate my personnel prospects with you here on television, but I do have a view about how to staff government positions.”

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Jennings reiterated that Trump needs to find the “right person” for the job, saying, “He’s got two years left, and that’s a lot of time. And I know he has views about what he wants his legacy to be and has some policy ideas that he’d like to implement. You just need the strongest possible team that you can find.”

“If I were in his shoes, I would just be thinking,” he continued, “speed here is less important to me than getting the person who best fits the job, who has the most qualifications.”

Sciutto responded, “I do want to press you here… Are you interested in the job still?”

Jennings didn’t outright answer the question, instead saying, “I haven’t spoken to anybody about it tonight or today… I was finding out about the whole thing as you all were as well. The only person I’ve spoken about it today with is right now with you.”