Katie Zacharia Appointed as New White House Press Secretary

WHO:

Newsweek - Tyler Zacharia, the husband of Katie Zacharia, is a film producer and entertainment executive.

CNN - Zacharia has young children and lives in California.

CNN - Zacharia has also served as a legal adviser for Fix California, a conservative group founded by Trump ally Richard Grenell.

CNN - Zacharia first came to Washington as an intern for the Republican National Committee during the George W. Bush administration in 2006.

[12:56 PM PT] - TMZ - Trump announced on Truth Social that Katie Zacharia has officially been appointed White House Press Secretary.

CNN - President Donald Trump selected Katie Zacharia as his new press secretary.

CNN - Katie Zacharia is a conservative commentator and former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.

CNN - Karoline Leavitt is the former White House press secretary whom Zacharia will replace.

WHAT:

CNN - Zacharia's selection came about quickly; she was not being considered for the role as of last week.

CNN - Throughout the search to replace Leavitt, the White House struggled with higher-profile names, several of whom had previously criticized Trump.

CNN - On multiple occasions, senior officials had narrowed down the list, only to find that candidates had said something negative about the president, disqualifying them from the position.

CNN - Zacharia has also served as a legal adviser for Fix California, a conservative group founded by Trump ally Richard Grenell.

[12:56 PM PT] - TMZ - Trump stated, "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia."

CNN - Zacharia's selection is characterized as one that "would put Zacharia at the center of the White House's public messaging operation in the final stretch before the elections, when Trump's agenda and his party's control of Congress will be put before voters."

Alternet - The selection of Zacharia underscores the close ties between Trump's administration and his broader political and media operation.

CBS News - Katie Zacharia has been offered the role of White House press secretary, according to a White House official.

Deadline - It remains unclear whether Katie Zacharia has accepted the position of White House press secretary.

NBC News - Katie Zacharia is expected to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary.

US Magazine - Trump stated, "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia."

CNN - Zacharia has been a frequent guest on Fox, Newsmax, and CNN.

CNN - Zacharia's LinkedIn profile indicates she has served as a senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group and Truth Social since June.

CNN - Zacharia had a two-month stint as a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security before her current role.

[12:56 PM PT] - TMZ - Trump announced on Truth Social that Katie Zacharia has officially been appointed White House Press Secretary, stating he is confident she "will deliver strong results for our Country."

Alternet - Zacharia's selection is characterized as one that "would put Zacharia at the center of the White House's public messaging operation in the final stretch before the elections, when Trump's agenda and his party's control of Congress will be put before voters."

Alternet - Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career, as reported by a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, with fellow Republicans expressing dissatisfaction with his handling of the cost of living and the Iran war.

CNN - Zacharia's selection was characterized as one that "would put Zacharia at the center of the White House's public messaging operation in the final stretch before the elections."

Alternet - Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career, as reported by a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.

CNN - Zacharia's selection was characterized as one that "would put Zacharia at the center of the White House's public messaging operation in the final stretch before the elections."

Alternet - Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career, as reported by a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.

[12:56 PM PT] - TMZ - Trump expressed confidence that Zacharia "will deliver strong results for our Country."

CNN - Trump has offered the role of White House press secretary to Katie Zacharia.

CNN - Zacharia has been a senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group since June.

CNN - Zacharia's selection was made quickly; she was not being considered for the role as of last week.

WHERE:

CNN - Zacharia lives in California and commuted to Washington while working at the Department of Homeland Security.

WHEN:

[12:56 PM PT] - TMZ - Trump announced on Truth Social that Katie Zacharia has officially been appointed White House Press Secretary on October 9, 2026.

CNN - Zacharia's appointment was confirmed on a Friday.

WHY:

CNN - The White House struggled to find higher-profile candidates for the press secretary role due to previous criticisms of Trump by those candidates.

[12:56 PM PT] - Alternet - Zacharia's selection is characterized as one that "would put Zacharia at the center of the White House's public messaging operation in the final stretch before the elections."

CNN - The White House struggled to find higher-profile candidates for the press secretary role due to previous criticisms of Trump by those candidates.

HOW:

CNN - Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, before making the decision to appoint Zacharia.

Alternet - The selection of Zacharia underscores the close ties between Trump's administration and his broader political and media operation.

[12:56 PM PT] - Alternet - Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career, as reported by a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.

CNN - Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including Karoline Leavitt, before making the decision to appoint Zacharia.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 19:55 UTC)

In a surprising turn of events, Trump has appointed Zacharia to a key position, despite her not being considered for the role just a week ago. The White House faced challenges during the search for a replacement, as many higher-profile candidates were disqualified due to past criticisms of Trump. Zacharia, who has previously served as a legal adviser for the conservative group Fix California, was chosen after Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 16:59 UTC)

Trump has announced the appointment of Katie Zacharia as the new Press Secretary, expressing that it is his "Great Honor" to make this selection. Her role is expected to place her at the forefront of the White House's public messaging as the elections approach, highlighting the importance of Trump's agenda and his party's control of Congress. This decision follows consultations with close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, reinforcing the strong connections between Trump's administration and his political and media operations.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 11:07 UTC)

Katie Zacharia has been offered the role of White House press secretary, with Trump stating, "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia." While it remains unclear if she has accepted the position, she is expected to replace Karoline Leavitt in this key role. Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including Leavitt, before making the decision to appoint Zacharia.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 05:59 UTC)

Trump announced on Truth Social that Katie Zacharia has officially been appointed as the new White House Press Secretary. This announcement came at 12:56 PM PT and marks a significant change in the administration's communications team. Zacharia's appointment took effect on October 9, 2026.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 05:01 UTC)

Trump has appointed Zacharia as the new press secretary after struggling to find higher-profile candidates due to previous criticisms of him. Zacharia has been a frequent guest on Fox, Newsmax, and CNN, and her LinkedIn profile shows she has served as a senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group and Truth Social since June. Before her current role, she also had a two-month stint as a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, and Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, before making this decision.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 02:11 UTC)

Trump has officially appointed Katie Zacharia as the new White House Press Secretary, expressing confidence that she "will deliver strong results for our Country." Her selection places her at the heart of the White House's public messaging operation as the elections approach, highlighting the importance of Trump's agenda and his party's control of Congress. Before making this decision, Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 01:27 UTC)

Trump has appointed Tyler Zacharia, a film producer and entertainment executive, to play a key role in the White House's public messaging operation as the elections approach. This move comes at a time when Trump's approval rating has dropped to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career, with discontent brewing among Republicans regarding his management of the cost of living and the ongoing Iran war. Before finalizing this decision, Trump consulted with close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 22:58 UTC)

Zacharia, a California resident with young children, has been selected to play a pivotal role in the White House's public messaging operation as the elections approach. This selection highlights the strong connections between Trump's administration and his wider political and media efforts. Meanwhile, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that Trump's approval rating has dropped to 32 percent, marking the lowest point of his political career.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 21:59 UTC)

Zacharia has been selected to play a key role in the White House's public messaging operation as the elections approach, highlighting the strong connections between Trump's administration and his political and media efforts. This comes as Trump's approval rating has dropped to 32 percent, marking the lowest point of his political career according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Zacharia's journey to this position began in 2006 when he interned for the Republican National Committee during the George W. Bush administration.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 21:01 UTC)

Trump has announced on Truth Social that Katie Zacharia has officially been appointed as the new White House Press Secretary. He expressed confidence in her ability to deliver strong results for the country, especially as her role will be crucial in shaping the White House's public messaging in the lead-up to the elections. This announcement comes amid a challenging time for Trump, as a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows his approval rating has dropped to 32 percent, marking the lowest point of his political career.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 19:59 UTC)

President Trump has appointed Katie Zacharia as his new press secretary, taking over from Karoline Leavitt. Zacharia, a conservative commentator and former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, has been serving as a senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group since June. Her selection came swiftly, as she was not previously being considered for the role just a week ago, following challenges in finding higher-profile candidates due to past criticisms of Trump.