Trump Names Katie Zacharia White House Press Secretary To Replace Karoline Leavitt

US President Donald Trump has appointed Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, as the new White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August after the birth of her second child. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social on October 9, ahead of the November midterm elections.

Calling Zacharia a “loyal and brilliant supporter”, Trump described her as a “devoted fan and member of MAGA”. He said she had supported him from the beginning and expressed confidence that she would work effectively with journalists, the American public and his administration.

Zacharia thanked Trump for the appointment, describing it as the “honor of a lifetime”. She said she looked forward to working with the White House press corps and reporters across the country to communicate the administration’s record.

A California native, Zacharia is a lawyer and conservative political commentator who has appeared on Fox News and Newsmax. She currently serves as a senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that operates Truth Social.

Zacharia studied political science at Pepperdine University before earning her law degree in 2011. She began her political career as an intern at the Republican National Committee in 2006 and also interned at the White House during former president George W. Bush’s administration.

Before joining Trump Media, she worked as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative advocacy organisation founded by Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump ally. She subsequently joined the Department of Homeland Security in 2026 as a spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs but left after approximately six weeks.

Zacharia has also appeared on conservative television networks to defend Trump’s policies and criticise Democrats. Trump said she helped his 2024 presidential campaign in key swing states. According to reports, he consulted several allies, including Leavitt, before making his selection. Zacharia also met Trump in the Oval Office on October 9.

Leavitt, who became the youngest White House press secretary in US history at 27 when she assumed the role in January 2025, left in August to spend more time with her family. She is expected to join Fox News as an on-air contributor on November 1.