Trump Names Katie Zacharia White House Press Secretary

Donald Trump named Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and communications adviser for Trump Media and Technology Group, as his next White House press secretary on Friday, according to a Truth Social post from the president reported by The Guardian. Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt, who stepped away from the podium at the end of August after giving birth to her second child, the paper reported.

"It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia," Trump wrote, adding that she has "an unblemished record of support" and calling her "a devoted fan and member of MAGA."

Who Is Katie Zacharia?

Zacharia previously served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security before moving to a communications role at Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that owns Truth Social — the platform Trump used to make the announcement, the Guardian reported. The New York Times was first to report her selection, according to the Guardian's account. The Guardian said it had reached out to Zacharia for comment and had not yet received a response at the time of publication.

Why Did Karoline Leavitt Leave the Podium?

Leavitt exited the press secretary role at the end of August after the birth of her second child, the Guardian reported. Her departure left the briefing-room post open for roughly six weeks before Trump named a successor on Oct. 9, a stretch during which speculation built in Washington over who would take the job.

What Does the Pick Signal for Trump's Messaging?

Zacharia's selection puts her at the center of the White House's effort to shape the public narrative around Trump's second term, the Guardian reported, as his approval rating sits at record lows and his party works to hold Congress in next month's midterm elections. Trump has told supporters to vote "like his name is on the ballot," turning the contest into a referendum on his presidency amid what the Guardian described as "widespread economic discontent and an unpopular war with Iran."

"She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!" — President Donald Trump, via Truth Social

Was the Choice a Surprise in Washington?

Yes. The Guardian reported the pick "came as something of a surprise" after weeks of speculation that included reports naming Scott Jennings, a conservative commentator, as a possible contender for the job. Zacharia's path to the podium — from a DHS communications post to a corporate role at the president's own media company — had not featured prominently in that speculation before Friday's announcement.

Appointment at a Glance

• Oct. 9, 2026 — Trump announces Zacharia's selection on Truth Social.
• End of August 2026 — Karoline Leavitt departs the press secretary post after her second child's birth.
• Next month — Midterm elections that will test Republican control of Congress, per the Guardian.

Zacharia has not yet made a public statement about the appointment. How soon she takes the podium, and whether the vacancy affected the administration's messaging during the gap, remains unaddressed in Friday's reporting.