Katie Zacharia Debuts as Trump's New Press Secretary, Emphasizes Role Over Self

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, has stated that her role is "not about me" and is instead focused on amplifying President Donald Trump's communication with the American people. Zacharia, 42, made these remarks in her first public comments following her appointment, during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday.

She described President 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 Trump's Truth Social platform, expressed her eagerness to work for the President, noting his penchant for surprises. "Whatever it brings – he's full of surprises – but I'm really excited about it," she said.

Zacharia highlighted an instance where Trump showed her the location of the White House ballroom, interpreting it as a symbol of Trump "bringing back" America's greatness. "He is ahead of schedule, under budget, and it's gonna be amazing," she added.

President Trump announced Zacharia's appointment on Truth Social on Friday, naming her as the successor to Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt departed the position on August 27, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.

Trump praised Zacharia's performance at Truth Social, where she was described as "outstanding." He also noted her prior role as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, a position she held for six weeks. Prior to that, she replaced Tricia McLaughlin in February as the public face of Trump's immigration policies, though her tenure at DHS was marked by controversy regarding her alleged ties to Corey Lewandowski. Zacharia denied these reports at the time, stating her departure was due to the difficulty of balancing constant travel between Washington and her home in California with her family.

In his announcement, Trump described Zacharia as having "an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning." He further characterized her as "a devoted fan and member of MAGA," expressing confidence in her ability to "deliver strong results."

Zacharia expressed her gratitude to 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 statement by saying, "God bless President Trump, and God bless America."

Trump also mentioned Zacharia's involvement in his previous presidential campaigns, particularly in key swing states. Her appointment comes at a significant time in the political calendar, leading up to the midterm elections in November.

Zacharia, an attorney, is known for her outspoken conservative views and frequent appearances on Fox News and Newsmax. She is married to Hollywood producer Tyler Zacharia, and they have four children. Her earlier political career included an internship with the Republican National Committee, an undergraduate degree from Pepperdine’s Seaver College, and a law degree from its Caruso School of Law. She also worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Bush administration and spent three years in China as outside counsel for the World Bank.

Despite her public profile, Zacharia maintains a degree of privacy regarding her family life, keeping her children off social media. She has previously spoken about facing backlash for her support of Trump, describing the political sphere as "BRUTAL" and detailing the "DAILY heat" she receives. In an Instagram post, she explained her efforts to shield her family from public scrutiny while expressing pride in her husband's professional achievements.