Bettors Back Surprise Contenders for White House Press Secretary Following Short-Lived Tenure
Explore the latest prediction market favorites for White House press secretary after Katie Zacharia's brief five-day tenure under President Trump.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Prediction markets are swirling with speculation regarding who will secure the high-profile position of White House press secretary next, following the remarkably brief five-day tenure of Katie Zacharia. Zacharia stepped into the role as a replacement for Karoline Leavitt, leaving the coveted post vacant once again and sparking a fresh wave of wagers.
According to Kalshi bettors, the leading contender to step into the role is Anna Kelly, the current White House principal deputy press secretary. Market participants give the former beauty queen a 15 percent chance of claiming the position as of October 21, despite having previously been passed over when Zacharia received the appointment.
Meanwhile, CNN MAGA pundit Scott Jennings holds a 13 percent probability among bettors. Jennings was previously viewed as a top favorite when the administration sought a successor for Karoline Leavitt and reportedly campaigned privately for the job with the backing of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, only to be overlooked in favor of Zacharia.
An unexpected wild card has also emerged in third place with a six percent backing: Elizabeth Pipko, a former model who previously contributed to Trump’s 2016 campaign. Pipko’s husband, Darren Centinello, also contributed to Trump’s presidential bids in 2016 and 2020.
Beyond her political background, Pipko authored the book Finding My Place: Making My Parents’ American Dream Come True, which chronicles her upbringing and the journey of her Russian-Jewish parents from the former Soviet Union to the United States. She has frequently voiced her political allegiance publicly, sharing a social media post roughly two weeks after the 2024 presidential election praising the president’s extraordinary resilience and determination since his initial 2015 announcement.
Zacharia assumed the post in October following the unexpected departure of Karoline Leavitt in August. Interestingly, Kalshi bettors even assign a two percent chance that Leavitt could make a return to her former position.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
