President Donald Trump has selected conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, he announced on Friday.
Zacharia, 42, will become Trump's sixth chief spokesperson across his two administrations. She currently serves as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social platform.
Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, calling Zacharia "loyal" and "a devoted fan and member of MAGA." He added that she "has an unblemished record of support" and noted her involvement in his campaigns.
"She was previously involved in my Campaigns, assisting in key Swing States, where we won 7 out of 7," Trump wrote.
"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," he added.
The role has been vacant since August, when Karoline Leavitt stepped down, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. Trump called Leavitt one of his "most trusted aides" at the time of her departure. Leavitt has since reportedly taken a position with Fox News.
In his announcement, Trump noted that "Katie is replacing the fabulous Karoline Leavitt, who did a fantastic job as Press Secretary."
Zacharia is a lawyer educated at Pepperdine University in California and has four children. She has been a frequent presence on conservative media outlets, including Newsmax and Fox News, and has been active in Republican politics for most of her adult life.
She first came to Washington in 2006, when she held intern roles at the Republican National Committee and in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the administration of President George W. Bush.
She joined Trump's media company in June as a senior communications adviser, according to her LinkedIn profile. Earlier this year, she served briefly as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security, from February to March, before leaving the role, which she later attributed to the strain of travel between California and Washington on her family.
Zacharia also previously served as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative non-profit headed by Trump ally Ric Grenell, who currently serves as Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. In 2011, she spent nearly two years clerking at a law firm in Beijing, China.
The role of White House press secretary extends beyond conducting briefings to include managing relationships with the press, coordinating across the White House, advising the president on media matters, and overseeing an office that handles a significant volume of daily inquiries and requests.
