President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Katie Zacharia will serve as the next White House press secretary, taking over from Karoline Leavitt. The appointment comes as the administration contends with declining approval ratings linked to rising energy costs driven by the ongoing war with Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Zacharia as a “loyal and brilliant supporter” and highlighted her long-standing involvement in the Make America Great Again movement. He stated it was a “great honor” to select her for the position.
Zacharia, 42, is a California native who previously worked as the Senior Communications Advisor for Truth Social. Her prior experience includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
Responding to the announcement on X, Zacharia thanked Trump and praised his leadership. She expressed her commitment to communicating the administration’s achievements to the public and working with reporters nationwide. She also praised her predecessor, calling Leavitt “fabulous” and noting that he had set a “high standard” for the role.
Leavitt announced her resignation in August, citing a desire to spend more time with her young children and family. Conservative network Fox News confirmed earlier this week that she will begin providing commentary for the network in November. During her 18-month tenure, Leavitt was known for her combative interactions with the press corps. Notably, in January she labeled a White House reporter a “left-wing hack” following questions about the fatal ICE shooting of American citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis. She also faced scrutiny over the handling of the Epstein files and the Iran conflict.
Leavitt’s departure marks a shift in a period of relative stability for the role; Trump had four different press secretaries during his first term from 2017 to 2021. Zacharia takes the helm ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, where Democrats are projected to make significant gains in Congress amid the current political climate.
Another loyalist instead of a seasoned communicator. Fingers crossed she can actually spin these low approval numbers around November.
Is she any good at handling hostile questions? Leavitt was a disaster. Hope this is a strategic pivot for the midterms.