WASHINGTON
Alina Habba declared Wednesday she is not seeking the White House press secretary position, shutting down speculation about her potential appointment after she became a betting favorite on the prediction market Kalshi.
Kalshi bettors had given Habba a 35 percent chance of being named Karoline Leavitt's successor. Leavitt, the 28-year-old White House press secretary, announced earlier this month she would step down at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children.
Habba addressed the speculation directly on X, posting: "Flattered by the Kalshi odds, but I'm not in the running for any job." She also took aim at unnamed sources fueling the rumors, adding: "However, if I'm getting a new one, I'd love for one of these anonymous sources to let me know first."
This is not the first time Habba has been considered for the role. After Trump's re-election, her name circulated for the press secretary position. At that time, she said she was "flattered" but indicated she would "be better served in other capacities."
Habba has held several positions in the Trump administration and campaign, serving just over two months as counselor to the president before being appointed interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. A federal appeals court later ruled her continued service in that capacity was unlawful, leading to her resignation.
She currently serves as senior adviser to the attorney general for U.S. attorneys. She also previously worked as Trump's personal attorney and was a high-profile surrogate during his 2024 presidential campaign.
