Rumblings of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders‘ plans to ditch President Donald Trump‘s administration by early next year have quieted, as no formal announcements of her exit have been made.
However, a recent Yahoo News report suggests Sanders’ failure to find work elsewhere is possibly what’s keeping her tied to the Trump train.
Reports of Sarah Sanders’ plans to leave the White House first emerged in June. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
The news comes amid a shakeup in the White House Press Office that has sparked chaos and rumors of several high-profile departures, including that of Sanders and deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah. The Yahoo report notes that weeks have gone by since Sanders’ last on-the-record press briefing. What were once “daily” media briefings have since become straight-to-the-point updates delivered once a month.
“Her retreat from the briefing room has coincided with a growing chorus of reports saying she is plotting an exit,” the report read.
Sanders had remained mum about her plans but told Yahoo News she is currently “traveling.”
Shah, one of the only other spokespeople who has led multiple White House briefings, has also stepped out of the spotlight. According to the report, Shah, who was once tapped to lead communications for Trump Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh, told several of his associates in September of his plans to leave his position. It also notes that he has since scrubbed his “principal deputy press secretary” title from his Twitter bio.
A former member of Trump’s transition team, who is unnamed, said Shah is still on the payroll “but he doesn’t have an office, he doesn’t have a phone.” They added that both Sanders and Shah are actively trying to exit the White House, but no one will hire them.
“Sarah can’t find work. … Raj can’t find work either,” the source said.
Though Sanders has interviewed with several companies, “everybody’s told her no,” another former White House official told Yahoo News, adding that being labeled a “serial liar” has hurt her job prospects.
“No professional in good standing will even interview for a job,” the former staffer said. “It’s a zombie comms shop. Night of the living dead.”
