Veteran political strategist and CNN contributor Scott Jennings is reportedly contemplating a high-profile leap into electoral politics, potentially aiming for the soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat in Kentucky following Mitch McConnell’s retirement. However, sources say that Jennings is unlikely to move forward without a critical green light: the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Jennings, a native of Kentucky and a former advisor to both McConnell and President George W. Bush, is said to have made his intentions known in a candid moment at an afterparty for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. According to the Daily Beast, Jennings stated, “If the president wants me, I’ll run. If he wants somebody else, I’ll support that candidate.”

Though he hasn’t officially declared his candidacy, political observers believe Jennings could be a serious contender for the seat, especially given his rising national profile. Over the past year, he has become one of CNN’s most prominent conservative commentators, regularly appearing on “NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” where his spirited debates and defense of conservative policies have made him a standout voice on the network.

In fact, his role on CNN has grown so significantly that the network recently renewed his contract and gave him a substantial raise. Still, Jennings has not been given his own show, prompting speculation that he might pursue a broader political platform. According to the New York Post, his potential Senate run is “certainly not fake.”

Trump himself acknowledged Jennings’ balancing act on national television during a rally in Michigan, joking, “He defends me all the time on CNN, and he defends me really well, but he can’t go too far because he’ll get fired.”