Zacharia, a lawyer and communications adviser to Trump's media company, will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August after becoming one of the most prominent public faces of his second administration
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday announced the appointment of conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary, praising her as a loyal supporter and a key figure in his political movement.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
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“She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!” he added, referring to his Make America Great Again movement.
Zacharia, a lawyer and communications adviser to Trump's media company, will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August after becoming one of the most prominent public faces of his second administration.
Trump praised Zacharia's work for his presidential campaigns and expressed confidence that she would maintain a good relationship with the White House press corps.
In a post on X, Zacharia thanked Trump for the “distinguished privilege of serving as White House Press Secretary”.
“Trump's confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country,” she wrote.
“The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day,” she added.
Zacharia currently serves as a senior communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that operates Truth Social. Trump described her work there as “outstanding”.
From conservative media to the White House
A frequent commentator on conservative television networks, including Fox News and Newsmax, Zacharia previously served briefly as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees US immigration enforcement.
She joined the department earlier this year under then-secretary Kristi Noem but left after around two months, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Zacharia, who lives in California, has also worked with Fix California, a conservative advocacy group founded by Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump ally and one of his special presidential envoys. According to CNBC, she serves as the organisation's general counsel. The group seeks to advance conservative political causes in the Democratic-leaning state.
A graduate of Pepperdine University's law school, Zacharia began her career in Republican politics as an intern for the Republican National Committee in 2006, CNN reported.
Trump consulted several allies and advisers, including Leavitt, before offering Zacharia the position, according to CNN.
The appointment fills one of the White House's most high-profile roles. The press secretary is responsible for briefing journalists, answering questions about administration policies and defending the president's actions and decisions.
Leavitt took up the post when Trump returned to power in January 2025, becoming the youngest White House press secretary in US history at the age of 27.
A staunch Trump loyalist who previously served as press secretary for his 2024 presidential campaign, she left the administration in late August following the birth of her second child.
Fox News announced this week that Leavitt would join the conservative network as an on-air contributor from November.
Trump praised his outgoing spokeswoman, saying she had done a “fantastic job” in the role.
AFP
Published: 10 Oct 2026, 07:07 am IST
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