Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The White House may not have a new Press Secretary yet, but US President Donald Trump appears to have already found one candidate — and she was standing across from him during a Fox News interview.
When Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams asked Trump whether Karoline Leavitt could be replaced, he immediately pushed back, praising his press secretary and saying she would be difficult to replace. But he also turned the moment into a joke about her decision to leave.
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“I found out Karoline Leavitt likes her children more than she likes Trump, I’m very concerned about that,” Trump said, referring to Leavitt’s decision to spend more time with her two young children.
WHO REPLACES LEAVITT?
McAdams then asked Trump who he would like to see behind the White House podium once Leavitt leaves.
Trump had a suggestion.
“You?” he asked McAdams.
“How about you?” he added, appearing to float the Fox News correspondent as a possible successor.
Trump then sought Leavitt’s reaction to the suggestion as she stood nearby before continuing to praise McAdams’ work.
“I’ve always liked you,” Trump told her, adding that she could do the job.
The exchange was notable because Trump has not publicly announced a replacement for Leavitt. McAdams had asked whether he wanted to “make news” during the interview, and Trump’s response potentially created a new name to watch in the race for the White House podium.
LEAVITT TO LEAVE AT END OF AUGUST
Leavitt announced earlier this week that she would leave her position at the end of August, saying she wanted to devote more time to her family. She has two young children and said the demands of the press secretary’s job made it difficult to balance the role with the kind of mother she wanted to be.
Trump has openly supported her decision and said she would remain one of his top outside advisers after leaving the White House.
Leavitt gave birth to her second child on May 1. She returned to the White House podium on July 16 after maternity leave, although she had resumed some work several weeks earlier. Her departure will mark a change at a highly visible point of Trump’s second administration. As Press Secretary, Leavitt has been a regular face at the White House briefing room podium and a prominent defender of the US President’s policies.
IRAN FUELS CONSPIRACY OVER LEAVITT’S EXIT
Leavitt’s resignation has also fuelled speculation online over whether it could be connected to an earlier ruse episode involving Trump’s travel from Turkey.
The Iranian Embassy in South Africa linked Leavitt’s departure to the reported switch involving Trump’s aircraft during his July 8 departure from Ankara. It alleged that Trump left Leavitt behind while he moved to another aircraft following a reported security threat.
The White House said Leavitt was not on the flight involved in the episode, while Trump has said security and military officials wanted him to use another aircraft after authorities identified what they considered a credible threat involving Iran.
Leavitt herself has cited her family as the reason for stepping down. Trump has also said he respects her decision and expects her to remain politically involved as an outside adviser. The White House has yet to announce who will replace Leavitt.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
