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Katie Zacharia Begins Role as White House Press Secretary
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Katie Zacharia will begin her role as White House press secretary on Columbus Day, starting with an introductory news conference on Tuesday at 9:30 A.M.
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President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Katie Zacharia will begin her role as White House press secretary on Columbus Day, starting with an introductory news conference on Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. from the Press Briefing Room.
Zacharia, who has been a senior communications adviser at Truth Social and Trump Media & Technology Group, expressed her excitement about the new position, calling it an 'honor of a lifetime.'
Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in late August. Trump praised Zacharia, saying she would do a 'fantastic job' and referred to her as a 'devoted fan and member of MAGA.'
Zacharia's first press conference was notably brief, lasting less than 15 minutes and calling on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets. She emphasized her role as a spokesperson to 'amplify' the president's policies and solutions.
During her first briefing, Zacharia announced that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia stated that Guilfoyle had been 'a wonderful asset to the team,' but the White House had requested her resignation.
Zacharia's appointment comes at a time when Trump's popularity has fallen to record lows, and Republicans are working to limit potential losses in the midterm elections.
Sources familiar with the selection process say Zacharia won the position through her media appearances, ability to cover a wide range of topics, and support from key White House allies.
Zacharia, a Pepperdine University and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law graduate, previously served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and as spokeswoman for former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Zacharia told Breitbart News that she expects more of a 'midterm blitz' from President Trump and emphasized his focus on lowering gas and grocery prices.
Zacharia's first day as press secretary was marked by her appearance on 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' where she discussed President Trump's deal with Russia to supply diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets.
What this adds
Zacharia's first press conference was unusually short, lasting less than 15 minutes and calling on just three reporters.
The timing of Zacharia's start remains unclear, with conflicting reports on whether she began on Monday or Columbus Day.
Zacharia has not publicly confirmed or issued an official statement stating she has accepted the role, despite White House officials confirming her selection.
Background
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and communications adviser for his Truth Social platform, will serve as the new White House press secretary.
The White House press secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the executive branch of the United States federal government, especially with regard to the president, senior aides and executives, as well as government policies.
What's confirmed
- President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his newly selected press secretary, Katie Zacharia, will be starting on Columbus Day.
- “I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out.” Zacharia will be leaving her role as senior communications adviser at Truth Social and Trump Media & Technology Group to serve as the 37th press secretary.
- President Donald Trump announced Katie Zacharia will serve as the new permanent White House Press Secretary, filling a role vacated by Caroline Leavitt at the end of August.
- RELATED STORY | Karoline Leavitt to leave role as White House press secretary Zacharia is a conservative commentator and also briefly served as spokeswoman for former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Zacharia currently works for Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that operates the Truth Social media platform.
- The president said Leavitt would remain one of his “top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party” following her resignation President Donald Trump has announced that Katie Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt as the White House press secretary.
- Pepperdine alumna Katie Zacharia ('07, JD '11) has been appointed the next White House press secretary, as announced by president Donald Trump this afternoon.
- The White House announced on Friday that Katie Zacharia would be the new press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who served in the role until late August.
- Zacharia previously served as spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security and is a graduate of Pepperdine University, and the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
- Trump called Zacharia "loyal" and "a devoted fan and member of MAGA" in a social media post on Friday, referring to his Make America Great Again movement, adding that she had "an unblemished record of support".
- OAN Staff Addie Davis 7:21 AM – Monday, October 12, 2026 Katie Zacharia began her new role as White House press secretary, with her first news conference planned for Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump announced.
- Holiday Gift Guide Donate Marketplace Breadcrumb Home Government White House Watch Live: New White House press secretary Zacharia makes briefing room debut New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia makes briefing room debut By Just the News staff Published: October 13, 2026 9:41am Article Dig Deeper New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia makes briefing room debut on Tuesday morning.
What's still developing
- In comments to Fox News on Friday, Zacharia said her first day on the job would be Monday.
- The appointment comes nearly two months after Karoline Leavitt's departure, though the timing of Zacharia's start remains unclear.
- Here’s what we know about Katie Zacharia and why everyone is talking about her appointment.
- However, while White House officials confirmed that she was offered and selected for the position, Zacharia has not publicly confirmed or issued an official statement stating she has accepted the role.
- New Hampshire primary Senate candidates face a key test as attorney Katie Zacharia analyzes the race on 'Fox & Friends First.' Progressive Karishma Manzur challenges Chris Pappas for the Democratic nomination.
- “I am always honored and grateful when the leader of the free world, President Trump, truths me,” Zacharia wrote.
- Zacharia is due to take the briefing room podium at 9:30 a.m., barely 24 hours after starting work in the West Wing, and four days after being named as Karoline Leavitt’s replacement.
- "President Trump has heard people have been frustrated with the gas prices. People are frustrated with the increasing grocery prices. And he is delivering what he always does, which are solutions," Zacharia said.
- Zacharia spent most of her remarks touting the president’s policies and framed her new position as a job to “amplify” the president, something she said she’d done as a conservative commentator.
- "In fact, I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska, and we can ask him all of the questions out there," Zacharia said as she abruptly ended the briefing.
- Since I was revising the post below as I got more information, here’s the latest on White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia’s apparent claim to have taken the bar exam in China.
- Today, we bring you the inside story of how Donald Trump found his new press secretary, plus we get the real story about cookies in Kansas.