Vice President JD Vance stepped behind the White House podium on Thursday, September 3, 2026, to deliver the administration\u2019s first formal press briefing in 42 days \u2014 the longest gap since Karoline Leavitt became press secretary at the start of Trump\u2019s second term. NBC News\u2019 Garrett Haake confirmed in advance that \u201cthis will be the first briefing since July 23rd,\u201d and the session was carried live by outlets including The Hill, Just the News, and Breitbart. It marked Vance\u2019s third turn at the podium this year, after twice filling in during Leavitt\u2019s maternity leave earlier in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leavitt announced her surprise resignation on August 12, telling colleagues she wanted more time with her two young children after recently returning from leave following the birth of her second child. Since her exit at the end of August, no permanent replacement has been named, leaving Vance and a rotating cast of Cabinet secretaries to handle daily briefing duties in her absence \u2014 an arrangement now stretching into its seventh week and drawing notice from a White House press corps unaccustomed to such a long stretch between formal briefings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Details & Background<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On her final day in the briefing room, Leavitt sought to reassure reporters the vacancy wouldn\u2019t leave a communications void, joking alongside Communications Director Steven Cheung that \u201c[Trump] is the true communications director and press secretary here at the White House.\u201d<\/em> Trump himself later remarked on the unexpected demand for the job, telling reporters Leavitt \u201cmade that job very glamorous\u201d<\/em> and that the West Wing had been flooded with applications since her departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three names have emerged as the most-discussed contenders to take over full-time: CNN contributor Scott Jennings, who has publicly denied interest in the role; Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, who has been filling in on a rotating basis; and Communications Director Steven Cheung, who would add the title to his existing portfolio. Jennings reportedly submitted video clips to the White House defending presidential aide Natalie Harp, which some insiders took as a sign of interest despite his public denials. No timeline for a formal announcement has been given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reactions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At Thursday\u2019s briefing, Vance used much of his time at the podium to go on offense over the economy, defending the administration\u2019s efforts to bring down costs and arguing that Democratic alternatives would raise taxes rather than ease prices for families \u2014 a preview of the affordability message Republicans are expected to lean on heading into November\u2019s midterms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The briefing also touched on the administration\u2019s Venezuela oil deal, which officials have argued will eventually ease prices at the pump. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking from Caracas, has said Venezuelan oil flows would help lower gas prices over a 12-to-24-month window \u2014 a longer runway than the administration\u2019s shorter-term talking points have suggested, and one independent analysts have echoed in cautioning that relief from the deal is unlikely to arrive quickly. Reporters in the room pressed Vance on both the timeline and the press secretary vacancy, though he offered no new details on either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n