President Trump Names Katie Zacharia as New White House Press Secretary
President Trump selected Katie Zacharia, conservative commentator and former DHS official, as his new White House press secretary.
Shealeah Craighead/Wikimedia Commons
President Donald Trump has appointed Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary, announcing the decision on Friday. Zacharia, known for her conservative commentary and recent roles at the Department of Homeland Security and Trump Media & Technology Group, will begin her duties on Monday.
Selection and Background
The announcement came earlier Friday, with Trump praising Zacharia’s loyalty and support. He highlighted her work for Truth Social, her senior communications role at Trump Media & Technology Group since June, and her appearances on Fox and Newsmax. Zacharia also served briefly as a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security and has been involved in Trump’s campaigns.
According to a source, Zacharia was not initially considered for the position as recently as last week, but the search quickly evolved. Trump consulted close allies, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, before finalizing the decision.
Zacharia’s Commitment and Early Remarks
In a social media post Friday, Zacharia expressed gratitude for the opportunity, writing, “Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime.” She also shared on X her eagerness to communicate the administration’s achievements and work with the press corps, acknowledging the high standard set by her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt.
During a Fox News interview Friday evening, Zacharia recalled receiving a call from President Trump himself, who told her he “loved what a fighter I was for him.” She confirmed her start date as Monday but did not specify when the first White House press briefing would occur.
Challenges in the Search Process
The White House reportedly faced difficulties finding a replacement for Leavitt, with several high-profile candidates disqualified after prior criticisms of the president surfaced. Senior officials repeatedly narrowed down the list only to find issues with candidates’ past remarks about Trump.
Trump emphasized Zacharia’s personal qualities in his remarks to reporters, saying, “She’s a friend of most of you. I know she likes people — she likes all of you. Actually, I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but we just hired a new press secretary, and she’s going to be, I think, terrific.”
Personal and Professional Details
Zacharia lives in California with young children and previously commuted to Washington during her DHS tenure, a schedule she described as unsustainable. She has also worked as a legal adviser for Fix California, a conservative group founded by Trump ally Richard Grenell. Her political career began in 2006 as an intern for the Republican National Committee during the George W. Bush administration.
Karoline Leavitt congratulated Zacharia publicly, stating, “As I told the President, Katie has my full support and I will be cheering for her and the entire team at the White House every day.”
The transition marks a new chapter for the White House communications team as Zacharia steps into the role with a focus on promoting the administration’s record and engaging with the national media.
President Trump’s swift decision and Zacharia’s experience within his media and political circles suggest a continuation of the administration’s current messaging strategies.
