Trump Leans Toward Male Press Secretary, Ferguson a Frontrunner

The White House has been without a confirmed press secretary since mid-October, when Katie Zacharia left the job after only about a week, Fox News reported on Tuesday. A source close to the president told the network that Trump’s “instincts are to pick a man,” adding that “many people have told him that’s a good idea.”

A second person familiar with the matter said Trump plans to choose a man and described Ferguson as a frontrunner. The sources said the president intends to fill the vacancy soon and values the role.

Insiders Push Ferguson, but Trump Is Undecided

Ferguson hosts the nationally syndicated radio program “The Ben Ferguson Show” and appears as a political commentator on CNN. A source said his name “has been brought up to the president by many people.”

Trump has not made a decision. “POTUS is not sold on the idea,” the source said of Ferguson. “I think it’s safe to say [Ferguson is] pursuing the job, and the president is aware.”

A senior White House official told Fox News Digital that Ferguson is “one of [the] loudest supporters of President Trump in the 21st century,” and that he “consistently walks into the lion’s den and faces the media bias head on.”

“His resumé and experience are exactly what the administration will need when they face a Congress hell-bent on dismantling our efforts to Make America Great Again,” the official said.

Other Names Still Circulate

Scott Jennings, a conservative CNN contributor who served in former President George W. Bush’s administration, is also in the running. “The president keeps going back and forth on Scott Jennings,” the source said, adding, “I don’t think it will happen.”

Other names that have been floated, but have not emerged as clear picks, include White House communications director Steven Cheung, Breitbart chief Matthew Boyle and Ari Fleischer, who was press secretary in Bush’s first term. Fox News said many women have also made the short list, but the two sources insisted the next person in the job will likely be a man.

The search has already produced a string of public trial balloons. Trump said last month that naming Nicki Minaj as press secretary was “a good idea,” and this week appeared in the briefing room with UFC chief Dana White after publicly floating the job. White told reporters he has “zero political aspirations.”

A Gap After Two Departures

Zacharia, a conservative commentator, was chosen after Karoline Leavitt left the post at the end of August to spend more time with her family, following maternity leave after the birth of her second child. Fox News said Zacharia’s brief tenure was marked by controversy over her claims to be an attorney and a 14-minute press briefing that was widely criticized. The network said she left at Trump’s urging.

Seven Women Since Sean Spicer

The last seven press secretaries — spanning Trump’s second term, Joe Biden’s presidency and the latter part of Trump’s first term — have all been women, Fox News reported. Sean Spicer, who served from January 2017 until mid-2017, was the last man in the role. He was succeeded by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, now the governor of Arkansas.

The seven women were Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, Kayleigh McEnany, Jen Psaki, Karine Jean-Pierre, Leavitt and Zacharia.

The next press secretary would take the podium as the administration prepares to face a new Congress after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.