The White House may wait until after the November midterm elections to name a permanent replacement for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, according to an administration official cited by NBC News.
Leavitt is expected to leave the administration at the end of August. Although President Donald Trump intends to appoint a new press secretary, the administration is reportedly in no hurry to make the decision.
The possible delay comes as the White House faces several major political and policy developments ahead of the midterm elections.
Meanwhile, the Trump-appointed board of the Kennedy Center voted 20-3 to restore Trump's name to the building's facade and approved a plan that would partially close the arts center for two years. The proposed new name is “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”
The political focus is also beginning to shift toward the 2028 presidential race, with Democrats working on their primary calendar as potential candidates from different wings of the party position themselves for the next election cycle.
At the same time, NBC News reported concerns within the Pentagon and White House about military fatigue and morale among service members involved in extended deployments supporting the Iran war. The USS Abraham Lincoln is also reportedly expected to be replaced by another aircraft carrier.
With the midterms approaching, the White House appears to be balancing staffing decisions with a broader political agenda — and the next press secretary may not be announced until after voters head to the polls.