Who Is Katie Zacharia? White House Chooses Conservative Commentator as Press Secretary After Karoline Leavitt Departure

Katie Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, has reportedly been offered the job of White House press secretary. Zacharia, who regularly appears on Fox News, currently works with Fix California, a group founded by Ric Grenell, President Donald Trump’s special envoy.

The organization focuses on promoting conservative policies in California. The New York Post was the first to report about Zacharia being offered the coveted post. Zacharia worked at the Department of Homeland Security for nearly three months in early 2026 before leaving after Markwayne Mullin was appointed as secretary. While at DHS, Zacharia was reportedly closely associated with then-Secretary Kristi Noem and her special adviser, Corey Lewandowski.

White House Finds New Face

Zacharia’s appointment could shift the balance within Trump’s inner circle, given the long-standing tensions between Lewandowski and Grenell and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

A mother of four, Zacharia previously told Just the News that the lengthy commute from California had strained her family, prompting her to leave DHS.

Zacharia has extensive experience in Republican politics. She interned with the Republican National Committee while in college and later worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs during George W. Bush’s second term.

The White House had not publicly commented on the selection although Reuters also reported about Zacharia being chosen for the White House job, citing The New York Times.

Zacharia’s appointment comes after Karoline Leavitt left the position at the end of August after deciding that the demands of the job made it difficult to balance her responsibilities with raising her two young children. She had returned to work following the birth of her second child in May.

At 28, Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history when she took office in January 2025. Before joining the administration, she served as national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and worked in communications during his first term.

Her departure has not ended her involvement in political media. Fox News announced on October 5 that she would join the network as an on-air contributor beginning November 1, providing commentary and analysis across its platforms.

Comes with a Lot of Experience

Zacharia’s professional experience extends beyond her brief tenure at DHS. She studied at Pepperdine University in California and earned a law degree before working in legal and nonprofit roles. Her career included professional experience in Beijing, China, where she worked in the legal sector and was involved with an organization supporting children of migrant workers.

She later moved into conservative political advocacy and media commentary, building a profile through television appearances and communications work.

Her reported selection would bring a familiar face from conservative media into the White House briefing room, where she would be responsible for explaining the administration’s policies, responding to journalists’ questions and communicating Trump’s positions on domestic and international issues.

If she formally accepts the position, her connections within the administration’s wider political network could also attract scrutiny as she takes on one of the most visible communications roles in Washington.