Trump's new press secretary faces first major test as White House briefing room enters new era
The White House is set to end a weeks-long stretch without a permanent press secretary at the podium Tuesday when Katie Zacharia makes her briefing room debut, succeeding Karoline Leavitt after a shake-up in President Donald Trump's communications team.
"I am pleased to announce that Katie Zacharia will be beginning her term as Press Secretary tomorrow, Columbus Day, and will be doing an introductory News Conference on Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. from the Press Briefing Room in the White House. Katie has been with me, in spirit, from the very beginning, and will do a fantastic job!" Trump said on Truth Social Sunday.
Zacharia, an attorney and television commentator, served as senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the president's social media platform, Truth Social. Her appointment follows Leavitt's departure from the White House in August.
During his first administration, President Donald Trump had four White House press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.
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Leavitt served as the first press secretary of Trump’s second administration for 19 months before leaving the role on Aug. 27.
Zacharia previously served as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs and a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.
She appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Saturday in her new role, touting President Donald Trump's newly announced deal with Russia to supply more than 1.8 million tons of diesel fuel to U.S. and global markets in a bid to lower fuel and grocery costs.
"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.
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She celebrated the appointment in a post on X Friday, thanking Trump for what she called the "distinguished privilege" of serving as White House press secretary.
"Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime," Zacharia wrote. "President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day. His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country."
"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," she added.
She also acknowledged the expectations that come with succeeding Leavitt.
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"Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting," Zacharia wrote.
Since Leavitt's departure, the White House has held a limited number of press briefings and news conferences led by senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The White House adopted a rotating lineup of top Trump administration officials to lead press briefings while Leavitt was on maternity leave over the summer.
"Katie has been an effective champion of MAGA movement and America First policies - and most importantly clearly has [the] trust of President Trump," former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer told Fox News Digital on Friday.
"Anyone who has not met her yet will quickly see that she is a genuinely kind person who will work well with the press corps, unlike the first press secretary who came across as an angry leprechaun at times," Spicer added, poking fun at himself.