Donald Trump appoints Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary
US President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Katie Zacharia will become the next White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who previously left the role.
The president’s announcement followed reporting by The New York Times and Bloomberg that Zacharia had been selected. AP confirmed the appointment, citing Trump’s announcement. The decision initially described by sources familiar with the matter therefore received public confirmation from the president himself.
Zacharia works as a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social. Trump uses the social media platform to publish statements. She previously served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and appeared on Fox News. Her new position involves speaking regularly to journalists on behalf of the presidential administration.
Leavitt represented Trump during his election campaign and worked as an assistant press secretary during his first presidential term. Her departure was linked to family considerations. RBC reported that she decided to spend more time with her family after the birth of her second child in May 2026 and would continue advising the president in an outside capacity. She is scheduled to join Fox News as a commentator on November 1.
