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Trump Names Katie Zacharia as New White House Press Secretary
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump announced Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary, set to start on Columbus Day.
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Katie Zacharia will be the new White House press secretary, starting on Columbus Day, according to Breitbart and Fox News. Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in late August, as reported by Denver7 and Fox News.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social account, stating that Zacharia’s introductory news conference will take place on Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. from the White House Press Briefing Room, as noted by Breitbart and Fox News.
Zacharia, currently a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, expressed her excitement about the role, calling it an “honor of a lifetime,” according to Fox News and Pepperdine University.
The president praised Zacharia, calling her “a great person” and noting that she is “a friend of most of you,” as reported by Breitbart and the New York Post.
Zacharia’s first day on the job was initially reported to be Monday by Fox News, but she clarified in comments to Fox News on Friday that her start date would be Columbus Day.
Zacharia’s background includes serving as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and as a graduate of Pepperdine University and the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, as detailed by JusttheNews and Israelnationalnews (Israel).
While White House officials confirmed Zacharia’s selection, she has not publicly confirmed or issued an official statement about accepting the role, according to Oann.
Zacharia’s appointment comes nearly two months after Leavitt’s departure, as noted by MS NOW.
Zacharia’s role will involve working with the White House press corps and reporters across the country to communicate the administration’s achievements, as stated by Fox News and the New York Post.
The BBC (United Kingdom) reported that Trump called Zacharia “loyal” and “a devoted fan and member of MAGA,” referring to his Make America Great Again movement.
Zacharia wrote on her Truth Social account, “I am always honored and grateful when the leader of the free world, President Trump, truths me,” as reported by the Washington Examiner.
Despite the differing start dates reported by Fox News and Zacharia’s comments, both outlets agree that Zacharia will be the new White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt.
What this adds
The timing of Zacharia's start remains unclear, with Fox News initially reporting Monday as her first day, but Zacharia clarifying it would be Columbus Day.
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.
President Donald Trump endorsed Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, the Republican candidate for the state's at-large House seat.
What's confirmed
- President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his newly selected press secretary, Katie Zacharia, will be starting on Columbus Day.
- “Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime,” she wrote.
- “The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day,” she wrote.
- “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.
- 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.
- 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.
What's still developing
- “She’s a friend of most of you. I know she likes people. She likes all of you, actually. I don’t know if that’s good or bad … she’s going to be, I think, terrific,” he told reporters.
- The 41-year-old mother of four added that she looks forward to working with reporters from across the nation.
- “Our tax dollars are hard at work. And, we believe, probably illegally so,” Painter and three other ethics experts wrote in a Sept. 28 piece in the online publication the Contrarian.
- Here’s what we know about Katie Zacharia and why everyone is talking about her appointment.
- 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.