Trump Names Katie Zacharia as New White House Press Secretary

President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Katie Zacharia will be the new White House press secretary. Zacharia is a lawyer and conservative commentator who has supported Trump for many years. She will take over from Karoline Leavitt, who left the job in August after having her second child. The press secretary is one of the most important public-facing roles in the White House.

Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, calling Zacharia a loyal and brilliant supporter. He also called her 'a devoted fan and member of MAGA,' referring to his Make America Great Again movement. Trump said he was confident she would have a strong relationship with the White House press corps, which is the group of journalists who cover the president every day. He praised her record of support and her work on his presidential campaigns.

Zacharia currently works as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that runs Truth Social. Trump called her work there 'outstanding.' Before that, she briefly served as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, which handles immigration enforcement. She held that role for about two months under Secretary Kristi Noem earlier in 2026.

Zacharia has appeared often on conservative television networks like Fox News and Newsmax as a commentator. She also worked with Fix California, a conservative group co-founded by Richard Grenell, a close Trump ally. She serves as the group's general counsel, meaning she acts as its top lawyer. Zacharia lives in California and graduated from Pepperdine University's law school.

The press secretary's job is to brief journalists every day, answer questions about what the administration is doing, and defend the president's decisions in public. Zacharia accepted the role with enthusiasm, posting on X that serving as press secretary was a 'distinguished privilege.' She promised to keep sharing the administration's accomplishments with the American people. It is one of the most watched positions in the entire White House.

Karoline Leavitt made history when she became the youngest White House press secretary ever at just 27 years old. She took the job when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Trump praised her as she left, saying she had done a 'fantastic job.' Fox News announced this week that Leavitt will join the network as a contributor starting in November.