Trump Media adviser expected to take over White House press secretary role
Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator, is expected to be named White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt, according to White House officials and a person familiar with the decision. She currently serves as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group and briefly held a communications role at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
Katie Zacharia is expected to become the next person briefing reporters for the Trump White House, succeeding Karoline Leavitt. Two White House officials and an individual familiar with the choice told NBC News about the planned appointment.
Zacharia is now a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform. Her LinkedIn profile says she also spent a short time in a communications post at the Department of Homeland Security earlier in 2026. The report was published Oct. 9, 2026, by Garrett Haake and Monica Alba.
The change could affect how the administration communicates with journalists and the public, since the press secretary shapes daily briefings and message discipline. Reporters may face a different style and access patterns, while voters and advocacy groups relying on televised briefings could see shifts in tone and frequency. Because Zacharia's background includes conservative media and corporate communications, her tenure may influence how contentious issues are framed, though actual effects depend on decisions not yet announced.