The Latest: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave the Trump administration

Karoline Leavitt's unexpected resignation as White House press secretary has ignited a fierce power struggle within Donald Trump's inner circle to fill the role. As the president announced her departure at the end of the month to focus more on family, several contenders have emerged to vie for the prominent position.

Cheung, currently the White House communications director, has been a trusted ally to Leavitt throughout the second Trump administration. Leavitt commended Cheung's work on Wednesday, joking that they had "survived many, many news cycles" together.

Habba, known for his loyalty to the president, previously served as the personal lawyer before becoming a short-lived US attorney for New Jersey. Despite facing a legal challenge, Habba remains a vocal defender of the president through conservative outlets. Administration sources indicate he is an early frontrunner to replace Leavitt.

Kelly, who currently holds the position of principal deputy press secretary, has a history with the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. Previously serving as the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, she is seen as a strong contender within the administration.

Katie Miller, wife of top aide Stephen Miller, is a familiar face within the administration. As an influential conservative podcast host, she has interviewed cabinet officials and right-wing media figures extensively. Previously, she served as the press secretary for Vice-President Mike Pence from 2019 to 2021.

Budowich, a former deputy chief of staff, left the White House last year to join the private sector. Alongside Leavitt, he was one of the defendants in a case brought by the Associated Press over the outlet being barred from the press rotation for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."