Katie Zacharia Picked to Replace Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary
President Trump's choice would bring a conservative commentator and Trump Media adviser into the White House briefing role, though some reports leave her acceptance unresolved.
By Hushread Stories, written with AI from 12 outlets · First published 9 Oct 2026
In brief
- President Trump has picked conservative commentator Katie Zacharia to become the next White House press secretary.
- Zacharia would replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the White House press secretary role in August.
- Zacharia currently works as a communications adviser at Trump Media and Technology Group, according to reporting.
- Her background also includes work at the Department of Homeland Security, where she served briefly.
- Reports describe her selection differently, with some confirming an offer but leaving her acceptance unclear.
Timeline · 4 moments
White House official confirms Trump offered Zacharia the job
The Hill ↗Brief Homeland Security service identified in Zacharia's background
NYT Politics ↗Zacharia's current Trump Media communications role detailed
BBC News ↗Leavitt's August departure reported as replacement emerges
Forbes ↗How it started
The opening followed Karoline Leavitt's departure as White House press secretary in August, according to Forbes. President Trump has now picked Katie Zacharia to replace her.
Zacharia is a conservative commentator who currently works as a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, BBC News reported. NYT Politics also reported that she briefly worked at the Department of Homeland Security.
How it unfolded
On October 9, The Hill reported that President Trump had offered Zacharia the press secretary position, citing confirmation from a White House official. Its report identified her as both a conservative commentator and a communications adviser to the president's media company.
ABC News also reported on October 9 that a White House official had confirmed the offer. CNBC described the White House as having tapped Zacharia for the job.
Other coverage presented the selection more definitively. NYT Politics reported that Zacharia had been picked and would succeed Leavitt. NBC News said she was expected to be named the next press secretary.
The reports did not all establish the same stage of the appointment. Axios described an offer and made her move conditional on accepting it. Deadline Hollywood likewise reported the offer but said it was unclear whether she had accepted.
Where it stands
The coverage supports that Trump has selected Zacharia and that the White House has offered her the position. It is less consistent about whether the appointment is complete: some reports describe her as the new press secretary, while others stop at an offer.
Her Homeland Security background is also described differently. NYT Politics says she briefly worked there, while Axios identifies her as a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. The supplied reports do not resolve whether that department role is current.
What to watch
The immediate question is whether Zacharia's acceptance will be explicitly confirmed. The supplied coverage does not give a start date or a date for her first White House briefing.
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