US President Donald Trump has appointed conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as his new White House press secretary, praising her loyalty to his administration and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Trump announced the appointment on Friday, describing Zacharia as a committed supporter who had stood by him from the beginning.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!” he added.
Zacharia will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August after serving as one of the most prominent public faces of Trump’s second administration.
The appointment places Zacharia at the centre of the White House’s communications operations, where she will be responsible for briefing journalists, responding to questions about government policies and defending the president’s decisions before the media.
Who is Katie Zacharia?
Zacharia is a lawyer, conservative political commentator and communications adviser who currently serves as a senior communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group, the company behind the president’s Truth Social platform.
Trump praised her work at the organisation, describing her performance as outstanding.
She has also appeared regularly on conservative television networks, including Fox News and Newsmax, where she has commented on American politics and public affairs.
Earlier in 2026, Zacharia briefly served as a spokeswoman for the US Department of Homeland Security under then-secretary Kristi Noem. She reportedly left the department after approximately two months.
A graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law, Zacharia began her career in Republican politics as an intern with the Republican National Committee in 2006.
She has also worked with Fix California, a conservative advocacy organisation founded by Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump ally.
According to reports, Trump consulted several advisers and allies, including Leavitt, before settling on Zacharia for the high-profile position.
Zacharia responds to appointment
In a post on X, Zacharia expressed gratitude to Trump for selecting her to serve as White House press secretary.
She described the appointment as a distinguished privilege, adding that the president’s confidence in her was an honour.
“The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day,” she wrote.
Her remarks signal an intention to focus on communicating the administration’s achievements to the American public.
However, her appointment comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its policies and its often-contentious relationship with sections of the American media.
Leavitt’s departure
Leavitt assumed the position in January 2025, following Trump’s return to the White House, and became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary at the age of 27.
During her tenure, she became a prominent defender of the president, regularly confronting journalists during press briefings and explaining the administration’s position on controversial issues.
Trump announced her departure in August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her young children and family.
Fox News has since announced that Leavitt will join the network as an on-air contributor from November.
Trump praised her performance, describing her work as fantastic.
Zacharia’s appointment now sets the stage for a new chapter in the White House’s engagement with journalists, as she prepares to take responsibility for communicating the president’s agenda and responding to questions from the press corps.
