President Donald Trump announced Friday afternoon that Katie Zacharia has been appointed White House press secretary.
“She's a friend of most of you. I know she likes people. She likes all of you. Actually, I don't know if that's good or bad,” Trump said.
Zacharia described the appointment in a post on X as “the honor of a lifetime.”
“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. Zacharia added that she looked forward to working with the White House press corps and reporters nationwide to highlight the administration’s record.
The position has been vacant since August, when Karoline Leavitt left after the birth of her second child in May. Trump did not specify when Zacharia would formally begin the job.
Trump said Zacharia is currently the senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that owns and operates Truth Social, his social media platform. Her LinkedIn profile indicates that she has held the role since June.
Zacharia also spent a short period in the Department of Homeland Security’s public affairs office, serving as deputy assistant secretary for two months before becoming a DHS spokesperson following Tricia McLaughlin’s departure. She worked under Lauren Bis, who is now the White House’s senior deputy press secretary.
Trump said Zacharia had supported his campaigns in key swing states before joining the administration.
According to her LinkedIn biography, Zacharia has served since 2024 as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative political advocacy organization founded under Section 501(c)(4) by Trump ally Ric Grenell.
Trump also noted that Zacharia has worked as a political commentator for Fox News and Newsmax. Her LinkedIn profile says she has additionally appeared as a commentator on CNN and the One America News Network.
Zacharia earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Pepperdine University and a law degree from Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law. Her LinkedIn profile says she lived in China for several years while working for a firm focused on U.S.-China relations.
“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.
