Katie Zacharia Debuts as Trump's White House Press Secretary
U.S. President Donald Trump named Katie Zacharia as the new White House press secretary on Friday (10/9/2026), replacing Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August 2026. Leavitt has since joined Fox News as a contributor.
Zacharia made her debut at the briefing room podium on Tuesday (10/13/2026). According to the Associated Press, the first briefing lasted only about 14 minutes — Zacharia took questions from three outlets before abruptly ending the session and inviting reporters to direct remaining questions to Trump as he departed for a campaign trip.
In her opening statement, the 41-year-old attorney promised to amplify President Trump's agenda ahead of the midterm elections. Trump himself praised her debut as "excellent".
Who Is Katie Zacharia?
Katie Zacharia is an attorney, a Pepperdine University law graduate, and a mother of four. Before the appointment, she was known as a conservative commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, and served as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group — Trump's social media company.
In early 2026, Zacharia briefly served as spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Trump described her as a brilliant and loyal supporter, while FBI Director Kash Patel and her predecessor Karoline Leavitt offered public endorsements of the appointment.
Announces Guilfoyle Asked to Resign
The most striking moment of Zacharia's debut was her announcement that the White House had asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign," Zacharia said, calling Guilfoyle a wonderful asset to the team.
The announcement came after days of reports that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were weighing whether to remove Guilfoyle from her post in Athens.
Debut Draws Scrutiny
Zacharia's first appearance drew mixed reactions. Several outlets criticized her delivery as nervous — citing a slow reading of the opening statement, limited eye contact, and an unusual tone.
The White House nonetheless expressed satisfaction. Zacharia also confirmed she would keep and expand the "new media seat" in the briefing room — a policy introduced by her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt. She said her husband and four children would move to Washington, and that family would remain her priority amid her new duties.
