October 9, 2026 · Personnel, Competence & Administrative Failure
· Personnel action
Confirmed
Trump Taps Truth Social Adviser Katie Zacharia as Next White House Press Secretary
President Trump announced on Truth Social on Oct. 9, 2026, that Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and senior communications adviser to Truth Social who briefly worked as a DHS spokesperson earlier in the year, will become the next White House press secretary. Trump called her a person with "an unblemished record of support" and "a devoted fan and member of MAGA." She fills a post vacant since Karoline Leavitt left in late August; no White House press briefing has been held since Sept. 3, when Vice President JD Vance took questions in Leavitt's place.
Trump's framing of the appointment around personal loyalty to him, rather than communications credentials, for a position responsible for briefing the press on behalf of the executive branch, continues a pattern in this administration of filling official spokesperson roles with media figures drawn from Trump-aligned outlets rather than career communications staff.
Zacharia said on social media she looks forward to working with the White House press corps; the administration has not said when regular briefings will resume.
Trump's framing of the appointment around personal loyalty to him, rather than communications credentials, for a position responsible for briefing the press on behalf of the executive branch, continues a pattern in this administration of filling official spokesperson roles with media figures drawn from Trump-aligned outlets rather than career communications staff.
Zacharia said on social media she looks forward to working with the White House press corps; the administration has not said when regular briefings will resume.