Trump names Katie Zacharia as WH press secretary

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Katie Zacharia, a communications adviser for his media company, will become the new White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt. The announcement was made on Trump's Truth Social platform, a platform he frequently uses for political and official updates. Zacharia, who is a conservative commentator for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind the social media site, was described by Trump as a "loyal and brilliant supporter" from the very beginning of his administration.

Prior to her appointment as press secretary, Zacharia had briefly served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security in early 2025. She has also been a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax. Trump noted that Zacharia had been involved in his presidential campaigns, particularly in swing states. The request for comment from Zacharia was not answered promptly.

Zacharia's profile on LinkedIn indicates that she graduated with a law degree from Pepperdine University. Leavitt, the former press secretary, announced her departure from the White House on August 12 and officially left her position on August 27. She will now serve as an on-air contributor on Fox News Channel, beginning on November 1, according to the network's statement on Monday.

Leavitt assumed the role of White House press secretary in January 2025, but decided to step down to spend more time with her young children. She had previously served as the national press secretary for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign before taking up the White House position.