National News

Trump Names Katie Zacharia as New White House Press Secretary

October 15, 2026 • 3 min read

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has named Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, as the new White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt.

Trump announced the selection on October 9 via Truth Social, describing Zacharia as "a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning." She began her duties on Monday, October 12, and held her first briefing on Tuesday, October 13.

Background

Zacharia, 41, previously served briefly as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and has appeared as a political commentator on Fox News and Newsmax. She earned her law degree from Pepperdine University. According to reports, she worked on Trump's presidential campaigns in key swing states.

Leavitt, who served as press secretary since January 2025, announced her departure in August to spend more time with her family. She is set to become an on-air contributor for Fox News Channel beginning November 1.

First Briefing Draws Attention

Zacharia's inaugural briefing on October 13 lasted under 15 minutes, during which she praised the president's agenda before taking questions from a limited number of outlets. The brief session drew criticism from journalists and former White House officials, with some describing the debut as awkward.

During the briefing, Zacharia announced that the White House had requested the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, amid allegations of misconduct.

Questions Over Credentials

The appointment has also drawn scrutiny over Zacharia's legal credentials. The Wall Street Journal reported that she sat for the California bar examination after graduating from law school in 2011 but did not pass. Public records searches did not identify her as a licensed attorney in California, Texas, or Washington, D.C.

When asked by reporters where she had passed the bar, Zacharia responded, "When I moved to China," without further clarification. In a statement, she said she had practiced international transaction law "with all the appropriate credentials." The White House defended the appointment, with communications director Steven Cheung calling her "uniquely qualified and whip smart."

A White House official told the Journal that Zacharia was not hired to handle legal matters.

Viewers Say

Reactions online have been sharply divided:

• On the debut: Critics called the short briefing unprepared, with one former press secretary comparing it to a comedy sketch. Supporters argued she deserves time to settle into the role.
• On the credentials question: Viewers debated whether bar passage matters for a communications role, with some calling it a non-issue and others saying it raises trust concerns.
• On the lettuce meme: The Lincoln Project's viral post asking if Zacharia could "outlast this lettuce" drew both laughs and pushback, with betting markets briefly showing high odds she would not last a month.
• On timing: Multiple viewers noted the appointment comes just weeks before the November midterm elections, calling the press secretary role critical in the final stretch.

Sources: Associated Press, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, CNN. Viewer reactions summarized from public social media comments.

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