Trump appoints Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary

Donald Trump has appointed conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary, placing a communications adviser from his media company in a prominent role at the centre of his administration.

Trump announced the appointment on Friday through Truth Social, the platform operated by Trump Media & Technology Group, where Zacharia works as a communications adviser. She will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August.

Zacharia previously worked as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and has appeared as a commentator on Fox News and Newsmax. Her background combines government communications, conservative media and political campaigning, including work on Trump’s presidential campaigns.

In announcing the appointment, Trump praised Zacharia as a loyal supporter. She responded by describing the position as the honour of a lifetime and said she intended to communicate the administration’s record and policies to the American public. The Associated Press reported the appointment on Friday.

The White House press secretary serves as a principal public representative of the administration, answering questions from journalists and communicating the president’s positions on domestic and international affairs. The role can place its holder at the centre of disputes over government policy, official statements and the administration’s relationship with the news media.

Zacharia’s appointment brings someone with direct professional ties to Trump’s media operation into that position. Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social, which the president frequently uses to announce decisions and communicate with supporters.

A change in the White House briefing room

The position became vacant after Leavitt departed on 27 August. She had served as press secretary since January 2025, following her work as national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

Leavitt said she was leaving to spend more time with her young children. Fox News subsequently announced that she would join the network as an on-air contributor beginning in November, according to the Associated Press.

Zacharia’s earlier government experience includes a brief period as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. She has also developed a public profile through appearances on conservative television networks, where she has discussed political and government affairs.

Her move into the White House briefing room comes as the administration continues to communicate its policies on immigration, the economy, foreign affairs and other issues that regularly draw scrutiny from journalists and lawmakers.

The appointment alone does not establish whether the administration will change its approach to press briefings or its engagement with news organisations. That will become clearer through Zacharia’s statements and interactions with reporters in the weeks ahead.

For now, her selection marks a change in the personnel responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to the public and places a Trump Media adviser in one of the White House’s most visible communications roles.