Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump said Thursday he is "very excited about the person" who will succeed Don McGahn as White House counsel, a day after he announced McGahn will be leaving his post.

But inside the West Wing on Thursday morning, there was no indication that Trump has made a final decision on picking McGahn's replacement, a senior White House official told CNN.

"Nothing is final," the official said.

A top contender for the position has emerged: Emmet Flood, the lawyer handling the White House's response to the special counsel's investigation.

"Emmet is somebody that everybody really likes and respects. But that's not a final, final deal," the official said. "No one would be surprised if it was him."

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