Katie Zacharia selected as White House press secretary

The role of White House press secretary has been vacant since former press secretary Karoline Leavitt left in August. Conservative commentator Katie Zacharia has been selected as US President Donald Trump’s next press secretary. Trump confirmed Zacharia’s selection in a social media post on Friday, describing her as a 'devoted fan and member of MAGA.' He expressed confidence that Zacharia would deliver strong results for the country and would work well with the media, the American people, and his administration. In response, Zacharia stated it was the 'honor of a lifetime' to be named to the role. She emphasized the importance of communicating the administration's achievements to the American public and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the White House press corps and reporters nationwide. Zacharia’s selection occurs amid Trump's efforts to limit media access to his administration. A US federal judge recently extended a temporary block on Trump’s order that restricted certain media outlets from the White House. According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia is a senior communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social. She has previously worked as a commentator for conservative media outlets, including Newsmax and Fox News, and joined the Trump administration in February 2026 as an official at the US Department of Homeland Security. Zacharia first arrived in Washington in 2006, holding intern positions at the Republican National Committee and in the White House under former President George W. Bush. Earlier on Friday, a White House source informed Al Jazeera that the position had 'been offered' to Zacharia. The White House press secretary role has been vacant since August, following the resignation of Karoline Leavitt.