Trump Names Katie Zacharia White House Press Secretary

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Katie Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, ending months of speculation over who would take the high-profile post.

On Truth Social, Trump described Zacharia as a loyal supporter and said he expected her to work well with both the press and his administration.

The position opened after Leavitt left the White House at the end of August, following the birth of her second child. She said she wanted to focus on her family. Leavitt had been the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary.

Zacharia brings experience in conservative media, administration communications and Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that operates Truth Social. She served as a senior communications adviser at the company, where she worked with a platform Trump uses to reach supporters directly.

Zacharia’s appointment puts a former Trump Media adviser behind the official White House podium.

Before joining Trump Media, Zacharia served as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security. From February to April 2026, she was assistant secretary of Homeland Security for public affairs, a communications post at an agency central to the administration’s immigration policies.

She has publicly praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Border Patrol and border czar Tom Homan. She has also appeared as a commentator on Fox News, CNN, Newsmax and One America News, defending conservative positions in interviews across several networks.

Trump said Zacharia helped his 2024 presidential campaign in key swing states. She previously worked with Trump ally Richard Grenell at Fix California, a conservative advocacy organization. Her education includes a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Pepperdine University, Axios reported.

The press secretary is the administration’s public voice on presidential decisions and government policy. Briefings can bring rapid questions about spending, immigration, public safety and national security—and require clear explanations of what the government did, the authority it relied on and what comes next.

That scrutiny matters regardless of which party is in power. Zacharia’s challenge will be to communicate the president’s priorities while providing clear, timely facts when policies face questions or criticism.

Trump said he believes she has the respect needed to work effectively with the media. Her selection points to a spokesperson already accustomed to defending him across multiple platforms. Her past work at Trump Media may also draw questions about how the White House distinguishes official government announcements from political messaging. The appointment alone does not determine how she will address those questions.

Leavitt was known for forceful exchanges with reporters and for defending the president’s agenda. She recently took a role as a Fox News contributor, scheduled to begin November 1.

Zacharia takes over as the November midterms raise the stakes of presidential statements. Reporters will press the administration for answers, while supporters and critics assess how those answers are delivered, The New York Times reported. The public, meanwhile, has a clear interest in timely information explaining government decisions and their consequences.