Trump selects Katie Zacharia as next White House press secretary

CNN, Fox News and NBC News report that President Donald Trump has chosen Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and attorney, to be his next White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who departed in late August. The pick comes as Trump complains that poor public relations are obscuring his record ahead of the midterm elections. Fox News says it is unclear whether Zacharia has accepted, while NBC News describes her as expected to be named and says no start date has been announced, according to CNN · Fox News.

CNN reports that Trump phoned allies, Leavitt among them, to gather opinions on Zacharia and consulted Leavitt before making the offer. According to CNN, she was not under consideration a week earlier, and the search had repeatedly stalled when higher-profile candidates turned out to have criticized the president. Fox News notes that only two formal briefings have taken place since Leavitt left, led by Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Zacharia now advises on communications for Trump Media & Technology Group, parent of Truth Social, and earlier spent a short stretch at the Department of Homeland Security. NBC News adds that she holds a law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN · Fox News, Fox News and NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN · Fox News → Also at Fox News → Also at NBC News →