By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-13 15:00:27 | Updated at 2026-10-13 15:43:57
50 minutes ago
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia stands on the South Lawn as she departs the White House in Washington on Oct. 12, 2026. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images
Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, gave her first news briefing on Oct. 13 after starting her position in President Donald Trump’s second administration on Monday.
“I am so honored to work for President Trump and the American people as the new White House press secretary,” Zacharia said at the start of Tuesday’s news briefing. “I want to thank President Trump for his trust that he has placed in me.”
Zacharia told reporters that she has wanted to work for Trump for “a very long time.” She added that she was looking forward to working with the media at the White House in the middle of what she described as the “midterm blitz.”
Trump offered Zacharia the role of press secretary after former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped down in August to spend more time with her family following the birth of her second child.
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Zacharia said she will continue what she was doing to amplify Trump’s agenda outside the administration, but in a more official capacity as press secretary. She said she hopes to “only build on, only amplify, and only multiply to the extent possible all of the wins he’s making for Americans.”
“My goal is to be able to communicate that in complete tandem with the president, as he is his own best spokesperson, and will absolutely be leading the way,” she added.
Trump announced in a Sunday evening post on Truth Social that Zacharia’s first day as White House press secretary would be Monday, with an introductory news conference on Tuesday.
“Katie has been with me, in spirit, from the very beginning, and will do a fantastic job!” Trump wrote.
After reports circulated last week that Zacharia was
offeredthe job, she released a social media statement on Oct. 9, describing the opportunity as a “distinguished privilege.”
“Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime,” she wrote.
“I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out. Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting.”
Before taking the press secretary job, Zacharia worked as a top communications adviser for Trump Media, which owns the president’s Truth Social platform. She also worked for a couple of months at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
Zacharia previously worked as a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax and as a general counsel for conservative activist group Fix California. She also previously interned for the Republican National Committee and worked for the White House Office of Political Affairs during President George W. Bush’s second term.
Leavitt’s departure was announced by Trump in a social media post on Aug. 12. At the time, Trump described Leavitt as a “real leader in the White House” and said she would continue to serve as an “outside advisor.”
On Oct. 5, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott announced that Leavitt would join Fox News Media as an on-air contributor beginning Nov. 1.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
