President Donald Trump reportedly joked that his aide Natalie Harp could replace Karoline Leavitt as the next White House press secretary.

​Both women have been key figures in Trump’s inner circle in recent years, with Leavitt recently announcing she was leaving her position, in an unexpected move that leaves a key role unfilled.

​Harp, the president’s executive assistant, is frequently spotted at Trump’s side and has even earned the nickname of “human printer” because she provides the president with hard copies of news articles and social media posts.

​Sources told CNN on Thursday that Trump joked that he may have Harp, who has come under the spotlight in recent days over her devotion to the president, replace the outgoing Leavitt.

Scrutiny of Harp’s role in the administration has intensified after a report she was one of a small number of staff smuggled onto a military plane with Trump to escape a suspected Iranian threat.

Another report focused on letters Harp has written to the president, expressing her devotion to him, with a third suggesting she sat in the trunk of an SUV to accompany Trump to a courthouse in 2023.

On Thursday night, Trump even posted an A.I.-generated image of himself in the White House press briefing room, standing at the podium with the caption “The Best Press Secretary”.

But as the search for a replacement for Leavitt continues, sources told CNN that there is growing concern over the press secretary’s departure.

​“It feels like her and Susie are the only people holding this place together sometimes,” a White House official told the network, referring to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

​Sources also told the network that political commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Leavitt, and is said to have met Wiles at a steakhouse in Washington, D.C.

Speaking to CNN’s NewsNight earlier this week, Jennings was coy when asked about rumors that he may be in line for the high-profile role.

​“I don’t have any comment about that,” he said, before adding: “I think every president deserves a good, solid defense and someone who can go out there and explain what they’re doing, because the government’s doing so much.”

​Jennings defended Harp from critics this week, after she was referenced by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in a recent speech that was highly critical of Trump.

​“I just don’t think that’s what you sign up for when you’re someone like Natalie Harp, who never put her name on a ballot,” Jennings told Politico.

“She’s not the White House press secretary. She’s not a household name, and I just find it to be appalling. Somebody needs to defend her honor.”