Trump has named Katie Zacharia, a Truth Social communications adviser and conservative commentator, as White House press secretary ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump has named Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, filling the role left vacant when Karoline Leavitt departed in August. Trump announced his choice on Truth Social on October 9, praising Zacharia as a loyal supporter and saying he expected her to work well with the media, the public and his administration.
Zacharia called the appointment “the honor of a lifetime” in a post on X. She said she looked forward to communicating the administration’s record and working with the White House press corps and reporters around the country. Trump did not announce when she would officially begin the job.
Zacharia’s media and government experience
Before her selection, Zacharia worked as a communications adviser and conservative commentator for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that operates Truth Social. She has also appeared as a commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, and briefly served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. Trump said she had worked on his presidential campaigns, including in key swing states.
The Associated Press reported that Zacharia earned a law degree from Pepperdine University. Her background combines conservative media work, campaign activity and a short period in government communications.
Press secretary role ahead of the midterms
Zacharia is taking the position as the administration prepares for the November 2026 midterm elections. The press secretary is a leading public representative of the White House, responsible for answering reporters’ questions and explaining administration decisions. The election gives the role added visibility, but the appointment itself does not change the administration’s policies.
Trump’s selection also comes as his public approval faces scrutiny. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published earlier in October put his approval rating at 32%, with living costs among the concerns weighing on voters. That figure provides political context for the months ahead, though it does not establish why Trump chose Zacharia for the role.
Leavitt, who became press secretary in January 2025, left the position in August to spend more time with her young children, according to the Associated Press. Zacharia’s appointment now places a Trump Media communications adviser at the center of White House press operations as the administration enters a closely watched election season.
