Katie Zacharia Debuts as Trump's New Press Secretary, Declares 'This Job Is Not About Me'

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, stated that her role is "not about me" during her first public remarks following her appointment by President Donald Trump. Zacharia, 42, who was named to the position on Friday, shared her perspective on Saturday morning during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend.

"This job is about him and how he wants to communicate to the American people," Zacharia said, referring to President Trump. She described Trump as "the most energetic, intense president we have ever seen" and characterized his policies as "the most effective [and] most exciting."

Zacharia, who also serves as a senior communications advisor for the Trump-aligned Truth Social platform, expressed her eagerness to work for the president. "Whatever it brings – he's full of surprises – but I'm really excited about it," she commented.

She highlighted President Trump's attention to detail, noting that he had shown her the location of the White House ballroom, which she interpreted as an example of Trump "bringing back" America's greatness. Zacharia added, "He is ahead of schedule, under budget, and it's gonna be amazing."

President Trump announced Zacharia's appointment on Truth Social on Friday afternoon. She succeeds Karoline Leavitt, whose last day was August 27. Leavitt stated her departure was to spend more time with her family.

Trump described Zacharia as "outstanding" in her role at Truth Social and noted her previous experience as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. Her tenure at DHS, which lasted six weeks, was reportedly controversial, with reports suggesting her departure was linked to ties with Corey Lewandowski. Zacharia has denied these accounts, stating her exit was due to the difficulty of balancing travel between Washington and her home in California with family commitments.

In his Truth Social announcement, Trump called Zacharia "a devoted fan and member of MAGA," who he was confident would "deliver strong results." He also mentioned her prior involvement in his presidential campaigns, particularly in swing states.

Zacharia thanked President Trump on Truth Social for the "distinguished privilege" of becoming White House press secretary. "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250–year mark is the honor of a lifetime," she wrote, adding that Trump "has shown America that we can be great again." She concluded her message with "God bless President Trump, and God bless America."

Zacharia's appointment comes at a significant time in the political calendar, leading up to the midterm elections in November. She is known as a lawyer and a frequent commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, recognized for her conservative viewpoints and outspoken demeanor.

Married to Hollywood producer Tyler Zacharia, she is a mother of four. Zacharia began her political career as an intern for the Republican National Committee. She holds degrees from Pepperdine's Seaver College and Caruso School of Law and previously worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Bush administration.

Zacharia has previously spoken about facing criticism for her support of Trump, acknowledging that working in politics can be "BRUTAL." She has stated her intention to keep her family life private, despite her husband's career in film production.