US President Donald Trump speaks in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 9, 2026. REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz
President Donald Trump is reportedly trusting his gut on his next press secretary, and insiders say it points one way.
Trump's "instincts are to pick a man," a source close to the president told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. The outlet reported that conservative radio host and CNN commentator Ben Ferguson has emerged as a frontrunner, with the source saying his name "has been brought up to the president by many people."
A second person familiar with the search confirmed to Fox that Trump plans to tap a man for the job and that Ferguson, host of the nationally syndicated "The Ben Ferguson Show," is near the top of the list.
Still, Trump hasn't made up his mind. "POTUS is not sold on the idea," the first source said, adding that Ferguson is actively pursuing the role and Trump knows it.
CNN contributor Scott Jennings, a George W. Bush administration veteran, is also in the mix, though the source said Trump keeps flip-flopping on him and predicted he won't get the nod. Other names that have come up include White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Breitbart's Matthew Boyle and former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer.
Women also landed on the shortlist, according to Fox, but both sources expect the job to go to a man.
That would mark a shift. The last seven people to hold the post across Trump's two terms and former President Joe Biden's administration have all been women. Sean Spicer, who lasted roughly six months in 2017, was the last man behind the podium.
Trump administration officials are already lobbying for Ferguson. One senior White House official cast him as someone who "consistently walks into the lion's den," while another argued the president needs a "tireless, talented communicator" at the podium.
The White House has gone without a press secretary since Oct. 13, when Katie Zacharia left at Trump's urging after about a week on the job. Her short stint was dogged by questions about her claim to be a lawyer and a 14-minute briefing that drew widespread ridicule.
Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August after returning from maternity leave, saying she wanted more time with her family.
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