Katie Zacharia: Trump's New White House Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia is a conservative commentator and communications adviser whom President Trump named White House press secretary on October 9, 2026. She currently serves as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, and briefly worked in communications at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in late August.
EPR Reference Profile. Updated October 10, 2026. This profile is built from the first day of reporting and will be updated as more is confirmed.
What are the key facts about Katie Zacharia?
Attribute
Detail
New role
White House press secretary, announced October 9, 2026
Senior communications adviser, Trump Media & Technology Group (Truth Social)
Earlier government role
Communications role at the Department of Homeland Security, for a few months in 2026
Media profile
Conservative commentator who appears on outlets such as Fox and Newsmax
How it was announced
Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, and Zacharia thanked him there
Who is Katie Zacharia?
Zacharia is a longtime conservative media figure and communications professional. Per her LinkedIn profile, as reported by NBC News, she is a senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, which runs Truth Social. The Washington Post reports that she worked as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security for a few months this year, toward the end of Kristi Noem's tenure. Since leaving, she has defended the administration in media appearances, according to multiple outlets.
How did the succession unfold?
August 2026: Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt would leave the press secretary role, and she departed in late August after about 19 months.
August to October: the job stayed unfilled for nearly two months while names circulated, including Scott Jennings, Alina Habba, Jason Miller, and deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, as reported by the Daily Beast.
Early October: Fox News announced it had hired Leavitt as an on-air contributor, according to NBC News.
October 9: Trump announced Zacharia on Truth Social.
How was Zacharia chosen?
Trump announced the pick on Truth Social on October 9, describing her as a loyal supporter from the start of his political career, according to Axios and Newsweek. NBC News reported that two White House officials and a source familiar with the decision first told it about the selection earlier that day. A press secretary does not need Senate confirmation, so the appointment takes effect on the White House's timeline, and the reports EPR reviewed do not give a start date.
What does the job involve?
The press secretary communicates the administration's positions, answers reporters' questions, and represents the White House at briefings and public appearances, as Newsweek describes the role. Zacharia takes it over ahead of the November midterm elections, when White House messaging carries extra weight. For how earlier administrations handled the role, see EPR's profiles of great political communicators and its guide to political digital campaigns.
What does the pick signal for political communications?
EPR's reading, which is analysis and not reported fact, is that the choice favors a conservative-media operator over a career White House staffer. Leavitt's tenure treated the briefing room as a content operation as much as a press function, a pattern covered in EPR's analysis of Leavitt's exit. Zacharia's background in conservative commentary and Truth Social communications fits that model, but how she runs briefings remains to be seen. For the broader pattern, see the Trump communications playbook.
Sources
NBC News, Axios, The Washington Post, and Newsweek reporting on the October 9, 2026 announcement.
The Daily Beast for the other names floated as possible replacements.
President Trump's Truth Social announcement, as quoted by those outlets.
Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, was named White House press secretary on October 9, 2026.
Who did Katie Zacharia replace?
She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the White House in late August 2026 after about 19 months in the role.
What did Katie Zacharia do before this?
She was a senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, worked briefly in communications at the Department of Homeland Security in 2026, and appeared as a conservative commentator on outlets including Fox and Newsmax.
Does the press secretary need Senate confirmation?
No. The White House press secretary is a staff appointment made by the president and does not go through Senate confirmation.
What is Karoline Leavitt doing now?
Fox News announced this week that it hired Leavitt as an on-air contributor, according to NBC News.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team is the staff byline for news, analysis and features on communications, reputation, AI visibility and digital discovery. Everything-PR has published since 2009. AI tools assist with research and drafting, and every article is reviewed by a human editor before publication. Coverage follows the Editorial Policy, and substantive corrections are noted on the article under the Corrections Policy.
