Bakari Sellers says Democrats are "afraid" of Scott Jennings taking White House press secretary role

Former South Carolina state representative Bakari Sellers made the remark during a CNN panel discussion, arguing that fellow CNN political commentator Scott Jennings would be an influential communications figure if named to the White House’s press office.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers said on CNN that Democrats are “afraid” of Scott Jennings becoming the White House press secretary, making the comment during a Wednesday panel discussion with other CNN political analysts.

Sellers framed his point as a light, direct exchange on “CNN NewsNight,” where he told fellow panelists about Jennings, who is a CNN political commentator. In the on-air remark, Sellers said Democrats were “afraid of Scott Jennings becoming press secretary,” and added “Let me help, Scott,” as Jennings sat with the group, according to The Hill’s report.

The Hill’s article presents Sellers’ comments as a political characterization rather than a statement of an official personnel plan. No announcement by the White House was described in the reporting provided for this item.

The remark comes amid heightened scrutiny of the White House press operation, a role that typically anchors daily messaging and responses to questions from reporters and can shape how administrations frame policy changes and respond to ongoing political and national developments.

Sellers’ “afraid” characterization also reflects a broader, recurring theme in U.S. political media coverage: parties and figures frequently argue that specific communications choices will affect narrative control, while media commentators and public officials debate how press office leadership influences the administration’s tone and priorities.

Because the provided report centers on a CNN exchange, not an official appointment, the specific employment status or any timing for a press secretary change was not established in the supplied material. As a result, the statement should be understood as Sellers’ view of a hypothetical or potential personnel outcome rather than a documented personnel decision.

Sellers’ comments were reported by The Hill on August 13, 2026, describing both the setting and the substance of the remark, while keeping the focus on the political reaction within Democratic circles and the visibility of Jennings as a media figure.

Why It Matters

The press secretary role can affect how quickly and consistently an administration responds to questions from reporters, making personnel discussions a recurring political flashpoint.
Statements like Sellers’ highlight how political parties and media figures often argue that communications leadership changes narrative control.
Without an official appointment in the provided record, the remark functions primarily as a view of what Democrats expect from particular messaging figures rather than as confirmation of a personnel plan.
The episode illustrates how national media platforms such as CNN can become venues where potential White House staffing changes are discussed in public.

Sources

Key Facts

Bakari Sellers made the remark during a CNN “CNN NewsNight” panel discussion on August 13, 2026, according to The Hill.
Sellers said Democrats are “afraid” of Scott Jennings becoming the White House press secretary.
In the exchange, Sellers also said “Let me help, Scott,” while Jennings was part of the panel.
The Hill’s reporting presented the comments as a characterization made on television, not as an account of an official White House hiring decision.