President Donald Trump has selected conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who left in August 2026 and is joining Fox News. Zacharia, a former DHS spokesperson and senior communications adviser for Trump Media and Technology Group, was chosen after a rapid search where other candidates were disqualified for past criticisms of Trump. She enters the role amid ongoing legal battles over media access at the White House.
Selection of the New press secretary
- ▪Donald Trump sought counsel from former press secretary Karoline Leavitt and other close allies before offering the press secretary position to Katie Zacharia
- ▪The White House struggled to fill the press secretary role left vacant by Karoline Leavitt because several higher-profile candidates were disqualified after senior officials found they had previously criticized Donald Trump
- ▪President Donald Trump announced on Friday, October 9, 2026, that he has selected conservative commentator Katie Zacharia to serve as the next White House press secretary
- ▪Katie Zacharia will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the White House press secretary role in August 2026 to spend more time with her family
Katie Zacharia's professional background
- ▪Katie Zacharia has served as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, since June 2026
- ▪Katie Zacharia has appeared frequently as a conservative political commentator on media outlets including Fox News, Newsmax, and CNN
- ▪Katie Zacharia interned at the White House in the Office of Political Affairs and at the Republican National Committee during the 2006 midterm season
- ▪Katie Zacharia previously worked as a general counsel for Fix California, a conservative non-profit organization founded by Ric Grenell
Katie Zacharia's tenure at Homeland Security
- ▪Katie Zacharia stated she left the Department of Homeland Security due to the unsustainable commute from California, while media reports alleged she resigned due to her ties to former Secretary Kristi Noem
- ▪Katie Zacharia served briefly in February and March 2026 as a spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security
Karoline Leavitt's post-White House roles
- ▪Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt will serve as one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party following her departure as White House press secretary
- ▪Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt joined Fox News as an on-air contributor starting November 1, 2026, as announced by Fox News on Monday, October 5, 2026
Debatable claims
- ▪Former White House press officials immediately joining news networks as contributors damages media credibility
- ▪Loyalty to the president matters more than professional independence for a White House press secretary
- ▪Hiring White House staff directly from the president's private business enterprise poses a conflict of interest
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