Reports: Katie Zacharia Selected as Next White House Press Secretary

On Oct. 9, 2026, a White House official confirmed President Donald Trump has offered Katie Zacharia the White House press secretary role. The New York Times first reported it, citing two people familiar with the matter. Zacharia, senior communications adviser at Trump Media and Technology Group, would succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left in August and joined Fox News as a contributor. A Trump post said she was previously involved in his campaigns, assisting in key swing states, where we won 7 out of 7. She is a Pepperdine lawyer who has worked with Fix California, was president of the Christian Legal Society and College Republicans, and lives in California with Tyler Zacharia and four kids. CONTESTED: A White House official told Heartlander News the President has offered Katie Zacharia the position; a source told Al Jazeera it has been offered. CNBC and HuffPost treat it as an offer with acceptance unclear; NBC News says she will be the next press secretary and the Times says she was picked. Daily Mail and Daily Beast reported she left a six-week DHS post under Kristi Noem over Corey Lewandowski ties; she denied that to Just the News and blamed travel from California. Daily Mail said after Noem was fired, DHS moved to oust Noem loyalists. Zacharia has made no immediate public comment. Acceptance and start date are unconfirmed.