Katie Zacharia Named White House Press Secretary

Donald Trump has appointed conservative commentator Katie Zacharia as the White House press secretary, filling the position left vacant by Karoline Leavitt's resignation.

Zacharia, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security under Kristi Noem, is a lawyer and has made frequent appearances on Fox News and Newsmax. She departed the DHS role after six weeks in March, citing the difficulty of balancing travel between Washington D.C. and her home in California.

Following her tenure at DHS, Zacharia joined Trump Media and Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, as a communications adviser. Trump personally selected Zacharia for the press secretary role on Friday, according to The New York Times. CNN reported that Trump consulted with Leavitt before making his final decision.

Leavitt resigned at the end of August, stating a desire to spend more time with her two young children, leaving the press secretary position open for over a month.

Prior to Zacharia's appointment, several other media figures and former Trump associates were reportedly considered for the position, including CNN commentator Scott Jennings, former Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, and former Trump lawyer Alina Habba.

Zacharia earned her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University's Seaver College and her law degree from its Caruso School of Law. Her career has included work in corporate and political advocacy.

Her departure from the DHS was reportedly linked to her close association with Corey Lewandowski, who was an advisor to Kristi Noem and rumored to be romantically involved with her. Zacharia denied these reports at the time, attributing her exit to the challenges of frequent travel.

Zacharia's appointment continues a trend of women holding the White House press secretary role consecutively, a streak that dates back to Sean Spicer's time in the position.