What Happened
During the interview with Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams, Trump addressed questions about Leavitt’s tenure directly. When asked whether Leavitt was replaceable, Trump responded, “No, she’s not. She really isn’t. She’s standing right over there and she’s done a great job.” He then added lighter remarks about her priorities, saying, “She actually likes her children more than she likes Trump. I’m very concerned about that.”
As McAdams pressed Trump on whether he had identified a successor, he pivoted to humor, suggesting the correspondent herself might fill the role. “You. How about you? She could do the job. I think so,” Trump said, before returning to compliment Leavitt’s performance. “I’ve always liked you. That’s why I’m doing this. I don’t do this that often.”
The exchange occurred as Trump spent a weekend at his Bedminster, New Jersey estate, where video evidence showed him attending a gathering with dozens of guests. Among those present was Alina Habba, the former member of Trump’s legal team during his New York civil fraud case, whose appearance sparked immediate speculation about her potential role in the administration’s communications strategy.
The Reaction
Habba’s presence at the gathering drew particular attention given her recent career trajectory. The 42-year-old New Jersey native, who led Trump’s defense against allegations by New York Attorney General Letitia James that he and his company misrepresented financial asset values, has maintained a visible role in Trump’s orbit despite recent setbacks in her government service.
Habba served as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey beginning in March 2025, a position she held until December 2025 when an appeals court determined her appointment did not comply with federal appointment requirements. In a statement following her departure, she wrote, “But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department, and it will not weaken me.”
Her legal work proved significant in Trump’s civil litigation. An August 2025 New York appellate court decision overturned a lower court judgment against Trump, marking a substantial legal victory. Judge Arthur Engoron had previously ruled against Trump and ordered him to pay a judgment exceeding $460 million before the appellate reversal.
What This Means
The timing of Trump’s public statements about Leavitt coincides with the intensifying search for potential replacements as the administration navigates the 2026 midterm campaign cycle. Republicans are preparing for elections that will determine control of both chambers of Congress, a reality that may reshape priorities within the West Wing communications apparatus.
Leavitt’s decision to step back from full-time duties reflects broader workplace dynamics affecting high-level government positions, where the intensity of the role has historically made work-life balance difficult for those with family responsibilities. Her openness about these challenges may influence how future administrations approach staffing decisions for demanding communications positions.
The visibility of figures like Habba at high-profile gatherings, combined with Trump’s casual remarks about succession planning, suggests the administration is in an active phase of evaluating personnel. Whether Leavitt’s departure becomes permanent or represents a transition to a modified role remains unclear, though Trump’s public endorsement of her performance provides a framework for her continued or future involvement in the administration’s work.
