President Trump announced Friday afternoon that Katie Zacharia, a conservative media commentator and communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, will become the next White House press secretary. She will replace Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down from the position in August.
Zacharia, 41, has been a communications adviser to the company behind Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has worked there since June. She previously served briefly as a spokeswoman for then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has frequently appeared on conservative outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax.
Trump praised Zacharia in a post on Truth Social, describing her as a loyal and highly capable supporter from the outset. He also noted that she had worked on his election campaigns and helped in efforts to win key swing states.
Her appointment comes during a politically delicate period for the White House. The Trump administration is entering midterm season as a growing number of Republican candidates seek distance from the president. At the same time, relations between the White House and the press remain tense, with Trump’s attempt to ban three news organizations from White House grounds facing a legal challenge.
Leavitt, who left the administration before that ban was imposed, was known for her combative style and often criticized mainstream media. Still, she was valued by Trump as a trusted adviser and for her quick, sharp responses to reporters.
In a Friday social media post, Zacharia said Leavitt had set a high standard. She added that she hoped to keep delivering results for the country and to communicate the administration’s major accomplishments to the American people.
Zacharia is an attorney who earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Pepperdine University. She lives in California and, according to her social media posts, has four children.
Her background includes work for conservative causes. Before joining the Trump administration, she served as general counsel for Fix California, a nonprofit founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell to promote a conservative agenda in the state. She also worked as general counsel for White Rose Resistance, an anti-abortion advocacy group. More than a decade ago, she spent about two years working in Beijing and says she has basic proficiency in Chinese.