Anonymous tales of sex, vengeance, laziness, and criminal behavior are swirling in Washington as President Trump considers who to name his next White House press secretary.
The spread of negative stories about contenders, many provably false, others unprovable, demonstrates the risk of Trump taking his time to make a selection, leaving his candidates exposed to attacks from rivals. A fear of some is that Trump himself could hear a rumor and believe it without checking whether it was true.
One experienced government spokesperson was said to exhibit a poor work ethic and incompetence, except when news cameras appeared. Another was said to have committed misconduct potentially amounting to a crime. One, who the Washington Examiner will not identify, was said to have slept with Secret Service agents.
Among the people believed to have been considered are deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley, former State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, and recently departed Treasury Department spokesman Tony Sayegh. Former Fox New host Eric Bolling, CNN contributor and potential first Hispanic press secretary Steve Cortes, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, and White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp have also been mentioned.
Stephanie Grisham, 42, the spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump and the heavy favorite, has found herself a piñata after Sarah Sanders said last Thursday she’s leaving this month.
Stories mounted as Grisham’s selection began to look likely this week, though it’s unclear if they are part of an organized campaign to derail her.
In one account, Grisham was said to strongly dislike a prominent West Wing communications aide. Grisham, a trusted Trump campaign veteran, was said to have plans to fire the other Trump surrogate, whom she allegedly suspected of self-serving leaks.
One source stood by their story about a looming clash, but amid broad pushback from nearly a dozen people who know both White House officials, a second source familiar with internal West Wing politics recanted their account of longstanding enmity.
The source who recanted said they actually support Grisham, who they view as tough and loyal to Trump, and learned they unwittingly repeated rumors from a Grisham foe who sought to make her candidacy appear controversial.
Although many former White House aides said that Grisham and the colleague aren’t close friends, they were unaware of them disliking each other, and doubtful of an alleged intention to seek her termination.
“Stephanie is not the type who would go in and start firing people. That’s not how she’s wired. I think it’s dramatically overblown,” said one former White House official. Others noted Grisham technically wouldn’t have the authority to order the termination.
Other stories have circulated among the fractious community of former White House and Trump campaign aides, some seeming to undermine Grisham’s path to a coronation.
One critic close to the White House incorrectly recalled that Grisham was banished to the East Wing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer in 2017, after a short stint in the main press office.
Many observers, meanwhile, said the first lady may not want to part with her aide, which one person close to the selection process said is untrue.
The first lady “is very supportive of people growing professionally. She would never say, ‘I’m keeping Stephanie,’” a former White House official said.
Although many stories circulated about Grisham, other contenders also were tarred with specific stories that would embarrass them and if accurate derail their candidacy. Others discussed as contenders were anonymously jeered as embarrassing themselves with blatant campaigning for the gig.
It’s unclear when Trump will name a selection, or if he feels a particular sense of urgency. Sanders’s short exit time frame may accelerate a choice, though it’s possible Trump would allow Gidley to serve in an acting capacity.
A four-person short list in the immediate aftermath of Sanders’ resignation included Grisham, Gidley, Nauert, and Sayegh, but Nauert subsequently bowed out. Trump said he wants to pick a woman, according to several sources.
