Trump Weighs Male White House Press Secretary as Ben Ferguson Emerges as Leading Contender, Fox News Reports

President Donald Trump is leaning toward appointing a man as his next White House press secretary, with conservative radio host and political commentator Ben Ferguson emerging as a leading contender, according to Fox News. ⠀ Two people familiar with the selection process told the outlet that Trump is considering breaking a run of seven consecutive women in the role. One source said the president’s “instincts are to pick a man,” while another identified Ferguson as a frontrunner. ⠀ But the decision remains open. “POTUS is not sold on the idea,” a source said of Ferguson, adding that the commentator is pursuing the position and Trump is aware of his interest. Ferguson hosts The Ben Ferguson Show and appears as a conservative commentator on CNN. ⠀ Scott Jennings, another conservative CNN commentator, is also under consideration. Other names mentioned include White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer. Women are also among the candidates reportedly being considered. ⠀ Ferguson has attracted support from senior administration officials, who have praised his willingness to defend Trump in confrontational media interviews. ⠀ The job has been vacant since October 13, when Katie Zacharia departed after less than a week in the role. She had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left in August after returning from maternity leave, saying she wanted more time with her family. ⠀ The last man to serve as White House press secretary was Sean Spicer, who held the position during Trump’s first term in 2017. No appointment has been announced.