Alina Habba is pushing back on speculation that she could become President Donald Trump’s next White House press secretary, even as prediction markets recently placed her near the top of the list of possible replacements for Karoline Leavitt.
Habba addressed the rumors directly Wednesday evening in a post on X, making clear that she is not pursuing the position.
“Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job,” she wrote.
She also mocked the anonymous sourcing behind reports suggesting she was being considered for the role.
“However, if I’m getting a new one, I’d love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first,” Habba added.
She followed that up with another pointed comment about the media coverage, writing, “Fake news remains the undefeated champ… well… until I come at them.”
Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for granting me so many extraordinary opportunities, such as working in the West Wing and spending countless hours… https://t.co/4jyW61DGGh pic.twitter.com/xny1yccuBn
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) August 12, 2026
Her response came after prediction market Kalshi showed a sharp rise in the odds of Habba becoming the next press secretary. On Tuesday, the platform gave her a 52 percent chance of landing the job, placing her ahead of other possible candidates being discussed publicly.
That was a significant jump from just two days earlier, when her odds stood at 18 percent.
The speculation began after Leavitt announced that she would leave her position at the end of August.
According to previous reporting, President Trump had not yet settled on a replacement, and the White House had not announced a timetable for naming one. Still, several figures with ties to the administration quickly emerged in media reports as possible contenders.
Habba was among the most prominent names.
She has long been closely associated with Trump, first serving as one of his personal attorneys and later taking on a role as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Her public profile, familiarity with the president and willingness to aggressively defend the administration made her an obvious subject of speculation once Leavitt announced her departure.
Habba, however, says that speculation is wrong.
BREAKING: A clear top 3 contenders have emerged to fill Karoline Leavitt’s vacancy
Odds to be Trump’s next Press Secretary:
🟥 Anna Kelly: 36%
🟥 Scott Jennings: 19%
🟥 Alina Habba: 18%
(All others 5% or under) pic.twitter.com/70vTarjVnL— Kalshi Politics (@KalshiPolitics) August 16, 2026
Her public denial leaves uncertainty over who will ultimately take over one of the most visible positions in the White House. The press secretary serves as a daily public face of the administration, regularly dealing with reporters, defending presidential decisions and responding to controversies that can change by the hour.
Leavitt announced her departure in a post on X, calling her time in the position the “honor and adventure of a lifetime.”
She explained that the decision was largely personal.
At 28, Leavitt said balancing motherhood with the demands of the job had become increasingly difficult. She said she wanted to spend more time with her two young children and felt she could no longer give them the attention she believed they deserved while continuing in such an intense position.
Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job. However, if I’m getting a new one, I’d love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first.
Fake news remains the undefeated champ…well…until I come at them 😉
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) August 19, 2026
Trump responded warmly to her announcement, describing Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides. He said he understood her decision and respected her desire to devote more time to her family.
Her departure naturally opened the door to speculation about who might come next.
Habba’s name made sense to many political observers because of her history with Trump and her experience appearing in front of cameras during some of his most high-profile legal battles. Prediction markets appeared to respond to that possibility quickly, sending her odds sharply higher.
But prediction markets are based on traders’ expectations, not official White House decisions. Habba’s own statement now directly contradicts the idea that she is actively seeking the position.
