Fox News' Kimberly Guilfoyle continues hosting show as she reportedly makes push for Trump press secretary

Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Stuart Weitzman

Fox News executives have permitted Kimberly Guilfoyle to continue hosting "The Five" and offering political analysis on the network despite reports indicating she is making a push to be press secretary in President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

Politico characterized Guilfoyle in a Tuesday report as a "dark-horse candidate" making "a late push in the race for press secretary." The outlet first reported last Wednesday that she was a contender.

The Tuesday Politico report said that while it was unlikely she would get the spot over Sean Spicer, chief strategist for the Republican National Committee, she might be added in an alternative role. A senior transition aide told the outlet the daily press briefings could be split between Spicer and another person.

Thus far, Fox News executives have stood idle — a noticeably different approach than how the network dealt with Newt Gingrich when over the summer he was under consideration to be Trump's running mate. At the time, Fox News suspended the former House speaker's contract to avoid any conflict of interest.

"Due to the intense media speculation about Gingrich's potential selection as Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate, we felt it best to halt his contributor role on the network to avoid all conflicts of interest that may arise," Jay Wallace, executive vice president, said in July.

Instead, the cable news network seems to be parting ways with its talent if and when appointments are made official.

Last week, Fox News terminated its contributor contract with Monica Crowley after it was announced she had been appointed to the National Security Council. Fox News did the same with KT McFarland when she was selected as deputy national security adviser.

Both Crowley and McFarland were permitted to continue appearing on the network while interviewing for their positions.

Last month, when host Eric Bolling was reportedly under consideration for a job at the Department of Commerce, Fox News executives also allowed him to continue as a cohost on "The Five." The network also did not take action when contributor Laura Ingraham said she was being considered for press secretary.

A Fox News spokesperson declined to comment about the conflict of interest in having network hosts and contributors provide analysis about Trump while simultaneously interviewing for jobs inside his White House.

The dilemma facing Fox News is similar to the one that gripped The Daily Mail when politics editor David Martosko was reportedly under consideration for a communications role inside the White House.

The Daily Mail took a similar approach to Fox News, not publicly addressing the conflict of interest. It was reported Tuesday that Martosko will not be in the Trump administration.

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