Bill Shine, the White House's newly-minted deputy chief of staff for communications, recently denied that he has been discussing a replacement for press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Politico reported Monday that according to sources, Shine has been asking for input on Sanders' possible successor. Shine denied the conversations.
"I have not had a meeting or discussion about this," he said last week, according to Politico.
Sanders last month stopped short of a full denial when pressed about a CBS News report that said she is considering leaving her position by the end of 2018.
"I can tell you that I show up here every day," Sanders told reporters. "I love my job. I’m glad to work for the president."
"Each and every day, I’ll pray for clarity and discernment about what my future looks like,” she continued. “I think the country’s looks pretty good, and I’m glad to be a part of that process, and I'm going to continue to do my job."
According to the recent Politico report, Trump advisors have been compiling a short list of candidates qualified to succeed Sanders. Politico reported that the list includes Heather Nauert, the current State Department spokeswoman; former Fox News host and new leader of a pro-Trump organization Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is currently dating the president's son Donald Trump Jr.
Donald (Don) John Trump Graham encourages Donald Trump Jr. to plead the 5th The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Pass USMCA Coalition - Deadline approaches for 2020 Dems Trump weighs in on blowback to Trump Jr. subpoena: 'Really sad' MORE; and White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah, among others.
The CBS News report also claimed that Shah is considering exiting the White House this year.
Sanders is noted by both critics and fans for her contentious relationship with the news media as well as ability to side-step pointed questions during press briefings. Many claim that the White House press office reflects President Trump
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"Who would want that job?" one former administration official said, according to Politico.
Politico spoke to nearly a dozen current and former administration officials, as well as others close to the president, according to the report. However, Sanders has not publicly indicated that she will be departing soon.
