Anna Kelly named press secretary
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly is the betting favorite to replace fired press secretary Katie Zacharia, but no appointment has been made.
The post has turned over twice since August, and a decision is not expected until after the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Background
Anna Kelly is the White House principal deputy press secretary, a 29-year-old former beauty queen who previously served as national press secretary for the Republican National Committee and worked on Trump's 2024 campaign. The press secretary job opened again after Trump fired Katie Zacharia, who lasted five days following a rocky debut briefing. Kelly had already been passed over for the top job once, when Zacharia was chosen over her, and several of the same names floated before that selection have re-emerged as possible contenders.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025Anna Kelly joined the press team as Karoline Leavitt's deputy and was later promoted to principal deputy.
- Aug 2026Kelly, Scott Jennings and Elizabeth Pipko were floated as possible successors to Karoline Leavitt, with Jennings the early favorite; Trump told reporters "Scott Jennings is good."
- Oct 13, 2026Incoming White House press secretary Katie Zacharia held her first press briefing.
- Oct 16, 2026Trump fired Zacharia after five days, following a rocky debut briefing and criticism that she misrepresented herself as a lawyer.
- Oct 20, 2026Prediction markets had Kelly as frontrunner at 15 percent, Jennings at 13 percent and Pipko at 6 percent.
- Oct 22, 2026Reports listed Kelly among potential internal candidates; Trump had yet to announce his choice.
- Oct 23, 2026A fact check stated the claim that Kelly is Trump's new press secretary is false; she has not been officially appointed.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House communications director Steven Cheung said Trump and his team are focused on the midterm election when asked about the timeframe for replacing Zacharia.
- Analysts
- Kelly's standing as the betting favorite on Polymarket and other prediction markets is not confirmation of Trump's plans, and no decision is expected until after the Nov. 3 midterm election.
- Party
- Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said Trump should prioritize experience, credibility and the ability to handle difficult exchanges with reporters when choosing the next press secretary, and has not confirmed he is seeking the job.
Still unverified
A viral claim that Anna Kelly is Trump's new White House press secretary is false, according to a Meaww fact check, with no evidence to back it. Kelly's position on betting markets should not be mistaken for confirmation of Trump's plans, and Trump has not indicated who he may pick.