Who Is Katie Zacharia? Meet Trump’s New White House Press Secretary

Katie Zacharia, a lawyer and conservative commentator, is President Donald Trump’s choice for the next White House press secretary.

Announced on October 9, 2026, she is set to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August; Zacharia said she planned to start on Monday, October 12.

Her path to the briefing room has run through law, political campaigns, government communications and conservative media. The appointment puts a familiar Trump ally in one of Washington’s most public—and demanding—jobs.

From law to political communications

Zacharia studied political science at Pepperdine University and earned her law degree from Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law.

She first came to Washington as a Republican National Committee intern in 2006, during the George W. Bush administration, and later worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs, according to published biographical reports.

She also spent time in China. In Beijing, she worked in a law firm’s international practice and helped with fundraising and communications for a nonprofit supporting migrant children.

That experience sits alongside her later work in California politics and national campaigns—a career that has moved between legal practice and public messaging.

Before the new appointment, Zacharia served as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative advocacy group, and appeared as a commentator on Fox News, Newsmax and other networks.

She also worked briefly in the Department of Homeland Security’s public-affairs operation, including as a spokesperson.

Most recently, she was a senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social.

Trump cited her work with the company, her campaign activity and her support for his agenda when announcing her selection.

What the appointment signals

The press secretary is the administration’s chief public spokesperson, but the job is not just delivering statements at a podium.

It involves answering reporters’ questions, coordinating messages across the government and explaining the president’s actions to the public.

Zacharia brings a mix of media experience and political loyalty. In announcing her, Trump praised her as a “loyal and brilliant supporter.”

She described the appointment as “the honor of a lifetime” and said she looked forward to working with the White House press corps and reporters across the country.

That combination will shape how she approaches the role. A press secretary must speak for an administration while facing persistent questions from journalists who are expected to scrutinize it.

Zacharia has appeared on both sides of that exchange—as a commentator defending political positions and, now, as an official expected to answer for them.

She also inherits a high-profile post from Leavitt, who left after the birth of her second child. Zacharia called following her a “high standard, and one worth meeting.”

Who Is Katie Zacharia?

Katie Zacharia (née Black) was born on March 23, 1984, in Los Angeles. She grew up in California and has long described herself as a lifelong conservative.

She attended Pepperdine University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2007 and a law degree from the Caruso School of Law in 2011. During her time there, she served as president of the Christian Legal Society and the College Republicans.

Early in her career, she interned with the Republican National Committee and worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the George W. Bush administration. After law school, she spent three years in China.

There, she worked as outside counsel for the World Bank Group and gained experience that shaped her later views on policy and communications.

Back in the United States, Zacharia built a career that blended law, advocacy, and media. She became general counsel for Fix California, a conservative nonprofit founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell.

She also served as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social.

In early 2026, she took a short turn as assistant secretary of homeland security for public affairs and spokesperson under then-Secretary Kristi Noem, lasting only a couple of months before leaving, citing the strain of travel between California and Washington on her family.

She has been a frequent commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, defending Trump administration policies with a style that mixes legal precision and sharp messaging.

Family Life and the Balancing Act

Zacharia married Tyler Zacharia in 2011. Tyler works as a film producer and media executive, with credits that include projects such as The Irishman and more recent films.

The couple has four children—three sons and one daughter—and has made their home in Westlake Village, California.

Family has clearly influenced her choices. She has spoken about the difficulty of balancing high-pressure roles with raising young kids, and her decision to leave the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year reflected that reality.

Now, stepping into the White House press secretary job means another major shift—one that will test the same balance on a much larger stage.

Sources

• ABC News: “Katie Zacharia appointed White House press secretary, Trump says”

• CNN: “Trump selects Katie Zacharia as next White House press secretary”

• The New York Times: “Katie Zacharia Picked as Trump’s New White House Press Secretary”

• BBC: “Commentator Katie Zacharia offered job of new White House press secretary”

• Newsweek: “Who Is Tyler Zacharia? What to Know About Katie Zacharia’s Husband”