Karoline Leavitt Says Trump Will Never Lead Another Republican Ticket After the Party's Midterm Defeat

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Republicans need a new “America First” figure to carry Donald Trump's political movement forward after their midterm defeat, acknowledging that the president will never again top a Republican presidential ticket.

“President Trump wasn't on the ballot in these midterms, he'll never be at the top of the ticket again,” she said on Fox News' My View with Lara Trump, aired Saturday, November 7. She argued that Republicans need someone who can reconnect with the voters Trump brought into the party.

Her comments followed Democrats' November 3 victories, which gave them control of both the House and Senate. Leavitt urged Republicans not to lose heart and pointed to an earlier midterm setback.

“Don't be deterred by this. If you look at history, this does happen,” she said. “In 2010, Barack Obama lost 63 House seats and I believe five or six Senate seats.”

Democrats actually lost six Senate seats that year.

“Voters really like instant gratification, and that's the world we live in today,” she added, suggesting Americans had not yet felt the benefits she attributed to Trump's policies.

Leavitt said she had spoken with the president several times since Tuesday's results and described him as “calm, cool and collected.”

“I think he knew this was probably the likely outcome, but tried anyway,” she said, defending Trump's efforts to help Republican candidates despite the difficult electoral environment.

She also praised his willingness to negotiate with political opponents.

“Trump has shown an ability to work with Democrats across the aisle,” she said. “He does not get enough credit for that.”

With Trump constitutionally barred from being elected to a third presidential term, Leavitt argued that Republicans should preserve his political coalition while finding a new candidate capable of reaching the voters who supported him.