Katie Zacharia tapped as next White House press secretary

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Katie Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, will be the next White House press secretary, President Trump said Friday. The big picture: Zacharia will take over the podium from Karoline Leavitt, a Trump loyalist who announced her departure from the administration in August. What they're saying: "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!" "I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration." Zoom in: Zacharia thanked Trump for the appointment in a Friday post on X. "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime. President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day," she wrote. "I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out. Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting." Catch up quick: Zacharia is a conservative lawyer and commentator who works as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social. She also served for about six weeks as the Department of Homeland Security's deputy assistant secretary for public affairs and spokesperson. Zacharia announced her departure from DHS on March 31 in a post on X, saying she hoped to continue supporting the president's agenda "in other capacities." Zacharia has worked as a commentator on Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, One America News and other outlets. She holds both a law degree and a bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University, where she currently serves on the school's Dean's Council. The intrigue: Zacharia is less well-known than some of her predecessors, but she is a vocal defender of the administration on TV and online. Trump also noted Friday that Zacharia had been involved in his 2024 presidential campaign, "assisting in key Swing States." She also previously worked for Trump ally Richard Grenell at Fix California, an advocacy group that works to advance conservative values in the state. Zacharia has previously described herself as a "native Californian and lifelong conservative." She told CNN in April that she's a "huge fan of ICE and a big fan of the Border Patrol" and praised border czar Tom Homan's work on immigration. Axios' Avery Lotz contributed to this reporting. Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.