Trump Weighs Ben Ferguson for White House Press Secretary
The press secretary position has remained vacant since October 13, when Katie Zacharia left the job after a week. President Donald Trump is weighing candidates for the position, and administration officials say he is leaning toward choosing a man. Several women remain under consideration, but Ferguson and CNN contributor Scott Jennings are among the names being discussed most prominently.
Ferguson, a conservative radio host and CNN commentator, has support from officials in the administration. One senior official praised his willingness to defend Trump in media appearances and said his experience would be useful as the administration faces Congress. A second official described Ferguson and Jennings as accustomed to tough questioning. Trump, however, has not settled on Ferguson.
Jennings, who served in George W. Bush’s administration, is also in the mix, though one source said Trump has been wavering over him and doubted he would get the job. Other candidates mentioned are White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Breitbart chief Matthew Boyle and former press secretary Ari Fleischer. Sean Spicer was the most recent man to hold the position, serving for several months in 2017. Trump has said he intends to fill the vacancy soon.
Trump’s Press Secretary Search Puts Partisan Loyalty in Focus
President Donald Trump is considering conservative media figures for the White House podium, with Ben Ferguson emerging as a leading possibility even as several women remain in contention. The vacancy has been open since Katie Zacharia left on October 13, after just a week in the job.
Administration officials have emphasized Ferguson’s record of defending Trump on air, saying he confronts media coverage they consider hostile. One official argued that Ferguson could help the administration as it faces Congress. That focus on allegiance and combative media appearances raises the question of whether the next press secretary will be valued chiefly as a political defender rather than as a credible public communicator.
Scott Jennings, a CNN contributor and former George W. Bush administration official, is also being considered, although Trump has not made a decision. Other names include Steven Cheung, Matthew Boyle and former press secretary Ari Fleischer. Officials say Trump wants to choose soon. The search comes after a string of women held the job; Sean Spicer most recently served as a man in the role, in 2017.
Trump Seeks a Tough Messenger for a Hostile Press Room
President Donald Trump is looking for a forceful communicator to take the White House briefing podium, and conservative commentator Ben Ferguson has support from officials who say he is willing to challenge hostile media coverage. The press secretary post has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left on October 13 after a week in the role.
A senior administration official described Ferguson as an unusually vocal Trump supporter and said his experience would matter as the administration confronts Congress. Another official said Ferguson and Scott Jennings routinely face tough exchanges on cable television. Their argument is that the job requires more than delivering prepared messages: the next press secretary must withstand scrutiny while making the president’s case.
Trump has not committed to Ferguson. Jennings, a CNN contributor and former George W. Bush administration official, is also under consideration, though a source said the president has gone back and forth on him. Other possible candidates include White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Matthew Boyle and Ari Fleischer. Women are still being considered, but officials expect the next choice may be a man. Trump intends to fill the vacancy soon.
Reported by Fox News, The Daily Beast, Newsweek.
