Trump picks Katie Zacharia as next White House press secretary

President Donald Trump said on Friday, October 9, that he had picked Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, putting a lawyer and conservative commentator in line to succeed Karoline Leavitt. The announcement identifies his choice for one of the administration’s most visible jobs, but reporting citing an administration official said it was not immediately clear whether Zacharia had accepted the offer.

Trump announced the choice on Truth Social, the social network operated by Trump Media and Technology Group, where Zacharia works as a communications adviser. In the post quoted by The Guardian, he called her a loyal supporter and a ‘devoted fan’ and member of MAGA. His public announcement followed reporting about whom he might choose to replace Leavitt.

Has Katie Zacharia accepted the press secretary job?

RTÉ reported, citing an administration official, that Trump had offered Zacharia the position. It said her acceptance was not immediately clear. The available reports also do not establish when she would begin work. Trump’s description of her as his choice therefore should not be taken as confirmation that she has started the job.

The distinction matters because the press secretary is the White House’s principal public spokesperson. The role involves briefing journalists, taking questions about administration policy and defending the president in public, as RTÉ explained. Trump’s selection signals whom he wants in that position; the reports leave the practical timing of the handover unresolved.

Who is Katie Zacharia?

Zacharia is a lawyer and a communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, according to The Guardian and RTÉ. Her current role places her at the company behind the platform Trump used to announce his decision. She has also appeared frequently as a Fox News commentator, where The Guardian says she promoted or defended Trump’s policies and criticized Democrats.

She previously worked as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. RTÉ reported that she joined the department earlier this year and left after about two months. That stint gave her experience speaking for a federal agency, although the reporting does not say what duties she would take on, or when, at the White House.

Zacharia has also worked with Fix California, a conservative advocacy organization founded by Trump ally Richard Grenell. RTÉ, citing CNBC, identified her as the organization’s general counsel. The Guardian likewise reported her connection to the group, describing it as focused on election integrity. These positions are part of her political and communications background; they do not resolve whether she has accepted the new offer.

A graduate of Pepperdine University’s law school, Zacharia earned her law degree in 2011, according to The Guardian. The paper also reported that she interned in the White House Office of Political Affairs during George W. Bush’s administration and at the Republican National Committee. Her career has therefore included Republican political work as well as legal and media roles.

Who would Zacharia replace?

Zacharia would succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the press secretary role in late August after the birth of her second child. Leavitt took the post when Trump returned to office in January 2025. She was 27 at the time, making her the youngest White House press secretary in US history, according to RTÉ.

Trump praised Leavitt’s work in the same announcement naming Zacharia, The Guardian reported. Fox News has announced that Leavitt will become an on-air contributor beginning in November, according to both reports. NewsJaws previously covered Leavitt’s planned move to Fox News; Trump’s latest announcement identifies the person he wants to fill the White House role she vacated.

The remaining question is whether Zacharia has agreed to serve and when the White House would put the change into effect. The Guardian reported Trump’s public declaration that he had picked her; RTÉ’s account of the offer, attributed to an administration official, stopped short of confirming acceptance. Until that is established, the confirmed development is Trump’s announced choice.