President Donald Trump has picked Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August. Trump, while announcing her pick earlier Friday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, wrote, "She has an unblemished record of support and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning."
Zacharia's predecessor, Leavitt, who stepped down citing family priorities, was the youngest White House press secretary when she assumed the role at 27 years old in January 2025. Her departure marked a significant transition within the administration's communications team during a period of intense political activity.
Zacharia thanked Trump in a social media post on Friday, October 9, writing, "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honour of a lifetime." She emphasized her commitment to the administration's goals moving forward. "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.
Her appointment is seen as a strategic move to solidify the administration's messaging. Zacharia, who has long served on Trump's campaigns, is a California native who graduated from Pepperdine Caruso Law School in 2011.
She joined Republican Party (GOP) politics after working as an intern for the Republican National Committee in 2006, during former President George W. Bush's administration.
Zacharia has served as senior communications advisor at Trump Media & Technology Group and Truth Social since June, according to her LinkedIn profile. This role provided her with direct experience in the former president's media ecosystem, which is expected to be a core component of her new responsibilities.
Besides her corporate roles, she has been a regular guest on Fox and Newsmax. These appearances have helped her build a public profile among the conservative base, making her a familiar face to the audience that the Trump administration frequently addresses.
She also worked for a brief period as a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security. This experience in federal government operations is expected to assist her in navigating the complexities of the White House press office and inter-agency communications.
Her portfolio also includes work as a legal adviser for Fix California, a conservative advocacy group established by Trump ally Richard Grenell. This background highlights her deep-rooted connections within the conservative movement and her alignment with the administration's policy priorities.
Zacharia's appointment comes at a time when Trump and the GOP are heading into the critical midterms and there is increased scrutiny over Trump's relationship with the press. Her ability to manage this high-pressure environment will be closely watched by political analysts and the media alike.