Trump closing in on new press secretary as administration officials push for pick who could break the mold

EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump is closing in on a new press secretary, and administration insiders are advocating for a person who will break the mold

"His name has been brought up to the president by many people," a source close to the president told Fox News Digital Tuesday, referring to conservative commentator Ben Ferguson.

"[Trump's] instincts are to pick a man," the source said. "Which many people have told him that's a good idea."

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The source said Trump intends to choose someone to fill the vacant position soon and that he values the role of press secretary in the administration.

A second person familiar with the matter confirmed Trump is planning to pick a man as his next press secretary and said Ferguson is a frontrunner.

The last seven press secretaries, spanning Trump's second term, former President Joe Biden's single term and Trump's first term have all been women. Sean Spicer was the last man to serve in the role. He was Trump's first press secretary from January 2017 to June of that same year. He was replaced by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is now governor of Arkansas.

Ferguson is a conservative commentator who hosts the nationally syndicated radio show, "The Ben Ferguson Show." He's also a political commentator on CNN.

But Trump is still weighing his options.

"POTUS is not sold on the idea," the source said of Ferguson. "I think it's safe to say [Ferguson is] pursuing the job, and the president is aware."

Scott Jennings, the conservative CNN contributor who frequently appears on "Newsnight with Abby Phillip" and worked in former President George W. Bush's administration, is also in the running for the job.

"The president keeps going back and forth on Scott Jennings," the source said. "I don't think it will happen."

A few other names have been floated but not emerged as clear picks for the job. This includes White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Breitbart chief Matthew Boyle and Ari Fleischer, who was White House press secretary during President George W. Bush's first term.

Many woman have also made the short list, but the two sources who spoke with Fox News Digital insist the next person to hold the job will likely be a man.

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Ferguson has support from within the Trump administration, Fox News Digital has learned.

"Ben is one of loudest supporters of President Trump in the 21st century," a senior White House official told Fox News Digital. "While many supporters don’t have the courage to take to the fake news, Ben consistently walks into the lion’s den and faces the media bias head on."

The official said Ferguson runs circles around some people who are currently paid to defend Trump.

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"His resumé and experience are exactly what the administration will need when they face a Congress hell-bent on dismantling our efforts to Make America Great Again," the official continued.

Another Trump administration official echoed that sentiment, claiming, "Ben has always been a skilled and talented commentator."

"He and Scott are screamed at by the radical left everyday as they defend the president to a hostile audience," the official said, adding that the hostility the pair face on cable news is not unlike what they would face standing behind the podium in the White House press briefing room.

"The president needs a tireless, talented communicator at the podium who’ll relay his success for the nation and how he’ll be a bulwark against Democrats’ attempts to dismantle our Republic," the official said.

The White House has been without a press secretary since Oct. 13, when Katie Zacharia left the job at Trump's urging after only a week.

Zacharia's brief tenure was marked by controversy over her claims to be an attorney and a disastrous press conference that lasted only 14 minutes and was widely condemned as a train wreck.

She was selected to replace Karoline Leavitt at the podium after the former press secretary served as a Trump world powerhouse through the 2024 campaign and into his first year-and-a-half back in office.

Leavitt resigned from the post in August after returning from maternity leave, citing a desire to spend more time with her growing family.