Trump names Truth Social adviser Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Katie Zacharia will be the next White House press secretary. He made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, according to the BBC, DW and the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Zacharia succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August. Zacharia thanked Trump in a post on X.

Zacharia, 42, is a lawyer. She has been a senior communications adviser for Truth Social and Trump Media & Technology Group. The BBC and Daily Sabah cite her LinkedIn profile. The BBC says she has held the role since June. She appears frequently on conservative news outlets. The BBC names Newsmax and Fox News.

She previously worked briefly at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and left in March. She also worked in a legal capacity for Fix California, a conservative group founded by Richard (Ric) Grenell. According to the BBC, she will be the sixth White House press secretary across Trump's two administrations.

Before the announcement, an administration official said Zacharia had been offered the post, according to Reuters, The Hindu and Daily Sabah. Daily Sabah, The Hindu and SCMP say The New York Times first reported her selection.

Reuters, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that the prediction market Kalshi has launched an investigation into a series of suspicious trades on its platform about her selection. The Journal cited a Kalshi spokesperson. The reports do not describe the trades or any findings.

According to the BBC, Zacharia is a lawyer educated at Pepperdine University in California and worked at DHS from February to March this year. DW reports that Fox News announced earlier this week that Leavitt would provide commentary on the network from 1 November.

What is disputed

• Her DHS role: The BBC, Daily Sabah and The Hindu describe her as a spokesperson. DW says she was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
• Her Fix California role: The BBC says she was general counsel. Daily Sabah and The Hindu say legal adviser.
• Status of the selection: Earlier reports described an offer pending acceptance. Later reports describe an announced appointment. This appears to reflect a developing timeline.

What each side says

In his post, quoted by the BBC, Trump called Zacharia "a devoted fan and member of MAGA" with "an unblemished record of support." He wrote: "I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary."

Zacharia wrote on X, as quoted by the BBC: "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime." DW quoted her as saying: "I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out." According to the BBC, she later said she left DHS because travel between California and Washington strained her family.

According to the BBC, Leavitt said she left to spend more time with her family. DW reports that Trump had announced she would resign to spend more time with her young children and family.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a start date for Zacharia.

Analysis

The appointment places a figure from Trump's own media company at the centre of the administration's communications. Supporters may see continuity and loyalty. Critics may question the close link between a presidential business and the official podium. Both views rest on how she performs once in the role. According to DW, US midterm elections are scheduled for 3 November, so the transition comes at a busy time. The Kalshi inquiry raises separate questions about information leaks and prediction markets. Its significance will depend on any findings, which the reports do not yet describe.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.