President Trump on Friday appointed Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator, as White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt weeks before the November election.
Zacharia, a California native, is a communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, the platform where Trump frequently posts. She worked briefly at the Department of Homeland Security earlier in Trump’s second term and has appeared as a commentator on CNN, Fox News and Newsmax. Trump said she was also involved in his previous campaigns.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!”
Zacharia called serving Trump and the American people “the honor of a lifetime.”
She succeeds Leavitt, one of Trump’s closest advisers. Leavitt left the job over the summer and recently announced she would join Fox News as a contributor. Trump on Friday again praised her, saying she “did a fantastic job.”
The appointment comes as Trump has had an increasingly contentious relationship with White House reporters and has tried to bar some news organizations from the White House. His latest effort — targeting CNN, Politico and MS NOW — has been put on hold by a court while the outlets pursue a legal challenge.
With weeks left until the November election, Trump is trying to sell voters on his administration’s accomplishments and turn out support for Republican candidates to keep his party in control of Congress.