“Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I’m not in the running for any job,” Habba posted on X.
She followed up with a sharp jab at the anonymous-source culture driving much of the speculation.
“However, if I’m getting a new one, I’d love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first,” she continued. “Fake news remains the undefeated champ…well…until I come at them.”
Her response came after her name surged to the top of a prediction market tied to the race for the next White House press secretary. On Kalshi, bettors had reportedly given Habba a 35% chance of taking over the high-profile position before she publicly ruled herself out.
The speculation began as Washington turned its attention toward Leavitt’s upcoming departure. At just 28 years old, Leavitt became one of the most recognizable members of Trump’s White House team and a frequent presence behind the podium as she defended the administration and sparred with reporters.
Earlier this month, Leavitt announced that she plans to leave the position at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. She recently returned from maternity leave, and her decision has set off an intense round of speculation over who Trump could choose to become the next public face of his administration in the briefing room.
For many observers, Habba appeared to be a natural name to consider.
She has been one of Trump’s most visible and outspoken allies for years, first gaining national attention as a member of his legal team before becoming a prominent defender of the president during the 2024 campaign. Her television appearances and willingness to aggressively challenge Trump’s critics helped turn her into one of the administration’s best-known surrogates.
In fact, this is not the first time Habba has been linked to the press secretary position.
Following Trump’s 2024 election victory, her name circulated as a possible candidate for the job. At the time, however, Habba suggested that her talents could be put to better use elsewhere.
She said she was “flattered” by the possibility but believed she would “be better served in other capacities.”
That prediction proved to be accurate.
Habba initially entered the new administration as counselor to the president, serving in the White House for a little more than two months. Trump later selected her to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, placing her in one of the administration’s most closely watched legal roles.
Her tenure in that office eventually became the subject of a legal dispute. Although she continued serving as acting U.S. attorney for a period of time, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling finding that her continued service in the position was unlawful.
Habba subsequently stepped down and later moved into her current role as senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys.
Despite that shift, Habba has remained a highly visible figure within Trump’s political orbit, making her an obvious target for speculation whenever a major administration job opens up.
For now, however, Habba says the rumors surrounding the press secretary position are just that: rumors.
Her message Wednesday appeared designed to leave little room for interpretation. The betting markets may have made her a favorite, and anonymous sources may have fueled talk of a possible move, but Habba says she has not been offered the job and is not pursuing it.
That leaves the race to replace Leavitt wide open.
With her departure drawing closer, attention will now turn to Trump and his inner circle as they consider who will take on one of the administration’s most demanding and visible roles. The next press secretary will inherit a national platform, a relentless press corps, and the responsibility of communicating the president’s agenda to the American people.
Habba may no longer be in the running, at least according to Habba herself, but the search for Leavitt’s successor is far from over.
And if another name suddenly emerges as the favorite, Habba’s response may offer a useful reminder: in Washington, speculation can move faster than the facts.
