CNN Panelist Says Democrats Are ‘Afraid’ His Colleague Will Replace Karoline Leavitt

Former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers (D) on Wednesday quipped that Democrats are “afraid” of fellow CNN political commentator Scott Jennings becoming the next White House press secretary.

“Let me help, Scott,” Sellers told other “CNN NewsNight” panelists, including Jennings. “Democrats are afraid of Scott Jennings becoming press secretary. There you go. Now you’ve got the job.”

CNN panelists pressed their fellow political commentator to confirm whether he would replace White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who earlier Wednesday announced that she was leaving her role at the end of the month. Jennings at first answered “no.”

“I don’t know,” he continued. “But I’ll tell you this: Karoline Leavitt has been maybe the greatest White House press secretary in the last 30 years, at least. She’s been nothing short of brilliant.”

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Karoline is the best! But we will need another Press Sec, so hear me out @EmilyCompagno Press Secretary.

— PatriotKnight (@LaPatriotKnight) August 12, 2026

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Yeah he would be great actually.

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) August 12, 2026

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Marco could always take on another responsibility

— Tom (@TomSabot) August 12, 2026

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Scott Jennings, a Trump defender and MAGA political commentator who frequently spars with Democrats on CNN, is another name that is reportedly at the top of the list of potential contenders.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Daily Beast that Jennings is the current frontrunner to succeed Leavitt.

Jennings served as special assistant to the president under President George W. Bush and has worked on four presidential campaigns.

He has also advised on campaigns for Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and former Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Trump has publicly praised Jennings, who once was a critic of the President.

“I think he’s terrific: Scott Jennings,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan last year. “He’s defending me all the time on CNN.”

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