Who are Trump’s likely top candidates to lead the communications team, interact with the media?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – President-elect Donald Trump is on a government push just a week after his massive victory against Vice President Kamala Harris, eyes locked on who he will announce to head his White House communications team.

Karoline Leavitt is the leading name for press secretary after working as the Trump campaign’s national press secretary throughout the election cycle with great effort. Alina Habba, Trump’s legal spokeswoman and adviser, was also considered a front-runner for the position, but said Thursday she would “be better served in other capacities.”

“While I am flattered by the support and speculation, the role of press secretary is not one I am considering. While I love to scream from a podium, I would be better served in other capacities. This administration is going to be epic! So proud of the Trump team , the latest appointments and 47!” she posted to X Thursday morning.

Speculation has mounted that in addition to Leavitt — and formerly Habba — Trump could potentially announce former President George W. Bush aide and CNN contributor Scott Jennings for the role, or longtime Trump adviser and ally Jason Miller, or campaign spokesman and adviser Steven Cheung. Other names that have surfaced as potential candidates include former ESPN host Sage Steele, RNC spokeswoman Elizabeth Pipko and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley.

TRUMP’S PICKS SO FAR: HERE’S WHO WILL ADVISE THE NEW PRESIDENT

Democrats are reportedly concerned that President-elect Donald Trump could potentially appoint another conservative-leaning Supreme Court justice. (AP/Evan Vucci)

During Trump’s first administration, the communications team at times saw a revolving door of press secretaries and communications directors.

TRUMP’S VICTORY IS ‘THE REVENGE OF WORKING CLASS AMERICANS,’ SAYS CNN’S SCOTT JENNINGS

Back in 2016, Trump announced Sean Spicer as his first press secretary, serving in the position from January 20, 2017, to July of that year. Spicer resigned after Trump named Anthony Scaramucci as communications director on a communications team. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who currently serves as the governor of Arkansas, assumed the position from July 2017 to July 2019.

Scaramucci served as communications director for about 10 days before being shown the door and has since been a top critic of the former and incoming president. Spicer had also served as acting communications director during Trump’s first administration and was succeeded by Scaramucci, Hope Hicks, Bill Shine and eventually Stephanie Grisham as communications directors.

TRUMP’S RAPID CABINET PICKS SHOW HIS ‘PRIORITY TO PUT AMERICA FIRST,’ TRANSITION TEAM SAYS

On the press secretary front, Grisham followed Sanders as press secretary, notably serving in the role in the early days of the pandemic before Kayleigh McEnany took over the role, serving in the position until President Biden’s inauguration in 2021.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer holds a daily White House briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 12, 2017 in Washington, DC (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump’s second administration is already coming together at a much faster pace than during his transition phase in 2016, when Trump announced 20 people for key Cabinet and administration positions starting Thursday.

“The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his cabinet picks reflect his priority of putting America first. President Trump will continue to appoint high qualified men and women who have the talent, experience and skills necessary to make America Great Again,” Leavitt told Fox News Digital when asked about Trump’s rapid rollout of Cabinet picks earlier this week.

LOYALTY ISSUES: TRUMP CHOOSES ALLIES AND SUPPORT TO FILL OUT HIS ADMINISTRATION

Trump, for example, pressed Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviserwho announced that choice on Tuesday, about three days before his announcement for the same role in 2016, when he tapped former Army Gen. Mike Flynn for the position about 10 days after Election Day.

Former US President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump also announced that he chose former Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin in New York to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a choice Trump did not make until December 7, 2016, when he selected Scott Pruitt to serve in the role.

Trump’s first pick for his administration, Susie Wiles for chief of staff, was announced the day after the election, while his 2016 announcement of Reince Priebus for chief of staff was announced five days after the election.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump has announced a communications appointment, revealing on Wednesday that Taylor Budowich will serve as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel.

Trump did not announce his first choice for press secretary back in 2016 until December 22, 2016, although this year’s choice is expected to be announced much sooner, according to his administration announcements.