In brief
Katie Zacharia, a long‑time commentator and former Trump Media & Technology Group communications adviser, has accepted the inaugural White House press secretary position. Her brief period as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security, from February to March, added to her experience across government and media. The announcement follows Karoline Leavitt’s exit to join Fox News. Zacharia’s new role will involve briefing the president, handling daily media inquiries, and maintaining complex relationships with reporters. Speaking to the BBC, her official stance was not yet confirmed.
Conservative commentator Katie Zacharia has been offered the senior role of White House press secretary, according to a White House representative who spoke to the BBC.
Zacharia, who has spent the past year as a communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, is slated to become the president’s sixth chief spokesperson across two administrations. She earlier held a short tenure as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security from February to March.
The current press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stepped down in August and has reportedly taken a position with Fox News. The new appointment adds a heavy‑weight media personality to the White House’s communications team.
Zacharia has increasingly been seen on conservative talk shows and social‑media outlets, having joined Trump’s media network and his Truth Social platform in June. The role of press secretary demands more than simply speaking at press briefings; it also requires managing relations with journalists, coordinating with other White House offices, and fielding the high volume of questions that come daily.
The BBC reached out to Zacharia for comment but was not confirmed in status at the time of publication. The White House confirmed the offer, but her official appointment has yet to be announced on the whitehouse.gov website.
