President Donald Trump has selected conservative commentator Katie Zacharia to serve as the next White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt who departed in August.
Zacharia, 42, currently serves as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group and its Truth Social platform. She will become the sixth chief spokesperson for the president across his two administrations. Her government experience also includes a brief tenure as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
Announcing the selection on Truth Social, Trump described Zacharia as “loyal” and a “devoted fan and member of MAGA,” noting her “unblemished record of support.” He added that she previously assisted with his campaigns in key swing states, where they achieved victories in all seven contested areas.
“I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration,” Trump wrote.
Zacharia is a frequent guest on conservative outlets including Newsmax and Fox News. Her political career began with an internship at the Republican National Committee and a role in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Bush administration in 2006. She also served as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative nonprofit founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell, who currently holds the title of Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions.
Before joining Trump’s media company in June, Zacharia worked at the Department of Homeland Security from February to March. She later cited the strain of commuting between California and Washington, D.C., due to family commitments as the reason for her departure from the agency.
A lawyer educated at Pepperdine University, Zacharia spent nearly two years clerking at a law firm in Beijing, China, starting in 2011. She is a mother of four and has been a vocal defender of the president’s policies. In a June interview with the BBC, she defended Trump’s decision to host a televised UFC event at the White House, comparing the sport’s ethos to the principles of the American Constitutional Republic.
The BBC has contacted Zacharia for comment regarding her new appointment.
The BBC asking for comment feels like a missed opportunity to ask about her UFC comparison. How serious is she really about these positions?
Her Beijing clerkship is an interesting footnote. Do you think that international exposure will change how she handles foreign policy questions?
Six press secretaries in one term? That turnover rate is wild. Do they even have time to establish a consistent messaging strategy?
Another loyalist appointed to the press secretary role. I wonder how this affects press access and candor at daily briefings.