Conservative media personality Benny Johnson reportedly made waves Monday by publicly pitching former Trump attorney Alina Habba as a potential replacement for outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Johnson shared a clip from his recent sit-down interview with Habba, a lawyer who has drawn controversy after being sanctioned by multiple courts over frivolous lawsuits filed on Trump’s behalf. Alongside the clip, Johnson declared that the public wants to see Habba take over the briefing room podium.
In the interview, Johnson pressed Habba directly on the speculation, acknowledging that while he couldn’t claim to know exactly what the president was thinking, her name had reportedly come up during conversations at the White House. He then asked her point-blank whether she would be willing to serve as press secretary.
Habba responded by emphasizing her long-standing commitment to serving the country, saying it remains the greatest honor of her career and that she serves in whatever capacity the president sees fit. She expressed confidence in her ability to handle the role, noting she had effectively performed similar duties for Trump even before he returned to the White House, referencing her earlier work as one of his spokespeople. Johnson affirmed that sentiment, telling her that’s exactly the point he’d been making.
Habba went on to say she genuinely misses being in that kind of role, though she acknowledged she doesn’t do it as often these days. She explained that, much like Leavitt, she has a family and has been enjoying that part of her life as well. Still, she made clear that if the president personally called and asked her to step in, she wouldn’t turn him down. Habba said she trusts Trump’s judgment completely, whether it comes to her or whoever else he might choose for the position, adding that she has always found it difficult to say no to the president. She reflected on her own unexpected path, noting she never planned to join the White House or the Department of Justice, yet both turned out to be among the greatest honors of her life, calling the whole experience quite a journey.
The renewed speculation comes just weeks after Habba pushed back on earlier rumors that she was a frontrunner for the job. In mid-August, she took to social media platform X to address her rising odds on prediction markets, saying she was flattered but wasn’t currently in the running for any position. She added, somewhat wryly, that if she was in fact getting a new job, she’d appreciate it if the anonymous sources fueling the speculation would let her know first.
Whether Habba ultimately lands the high-profile role remains to be seen, but Johnson’s public endorsement is sure to keep the chatter alive as the Trump administration prepares for a transition in its communications team.
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