CNN's in-house conservative commentator Scott Jennings was chided about being the frontrunner to replace the outgoing White House press secretary.
During a Thursday evening appearance on CNN, Jennings was again asked directly whether President Donald Trump or his administration had reached out to him about taking over for Karoline Leavitt, who announced on Wednesday that she's leaving her role as White House press secretary.
Jennings was asked about it on Wednesday night, when he was on the roundtable for CNN NewsNight. He told guest host Lulu Garcia-Navarro, "No," he didn't plan on taking the job, but that hasn't kept him from the murmurs about Leavitt's possible replacement. The prediction market Kalshi even has him as the frontrunner.
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins decided to ask again on Thursday evening if the White House had reached out about the job. This time, Jennings danced around the question.
"I don't really have anything to say about it other than, I mean, I would get to see you every day," Jennings told Collins, who frowned and seemed to mull over the answer. "And I would think you'd be happy about this."
"I already see you every day," Collins responded.
"Not really. We see each other one or two days a week, but can you imagine every single day getting to go to work where I am?" Jennings said.
"Okay, but that's not a no," Collins said.
Jennings was joined on the segment by Democratic political commentator Paul Begala. Collins jokingly turned to him and said, "I'm not going to ask you because I already know the answer to that."
Still, Begala offered his two cents by describing the role of White House press secretary as "a thankless job, and I don't wish that on anybody. I especially don't wish it on Scott because he's my friend." Collins laughed at the comment while Jennings smiled.
Jennings has been a CNN contributor since 2017 and previously advised Mitch McConnell's campaigns. He was also a special assistant to George W. Bush.
