Katie Zacharia Reveals Brutal 7-day TV Schedule As Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia walked into the White House Monday morning. She started her new job as press secretary. This follows a major announcement by President Trump on Sunday. He said she would begin on Columbus Day. The selection was made official last Friday by the White House. Her first news conference is set for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Zacharia leaves behind a grueling schedule of up to seven daily TV hits to take this role.
Zacharia is a 41-year-old mother of four. She worked in California until now. Before this, she left the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. She joined Trump Media and Technology Group. This group runs Truth Social. Her title there was senior media adviser.
Congratulations, friend! Thrilled to have another Ventura County lady @katiezacharia here with me in DC!
https://t.co/53zkB746aV— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) October 9, 2026
According to the Washington Examiner, she was up at 1 a.m. for TV appearances. Some days she was on screen for three hours. Other times she did seven hits. She won the job through this hard work. She also had help from a crucial ally in the White House. A source told the Washington Examiner that "The president likes to hire his own." This meant she was already part of the family.
RedState noted she has a strong legal background. She earned her law degree from Pepperdine University in 2011. She also worked as general counsel for conservative groups. Her frequent spots on Fox News and Newsmax made her a known face. These appearances helped her secure the position.
President Trump announced the news on his Truth Social account. He called her a "great person" as he left the White House on Friday. He told reporters she is a friend to most of them. "She's a friend of most of you. I know she likes people. She likes all of you, actually. I don't know if that's good or bad … she's going to be, I think, terrific," he said. This selection replaces Karoline Leavitt, who departed late August to prioritize her family.
Thank you to President Trump for the distinguished privilege of serving as White House Press Secretary.
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. His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country.
The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day. 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.
God bless President Trump, and God bless America.
— Katie Zacharia (@KatieZacharia) October 9, 2026
Zacharia wrote about her new role in a post. She declared that serving President Trump and the American people during this pivotal 250-year milestone represents the ultimate honor.She further noted that future efforts must sustain strong outcomes for our Country while highlighting daily major victories achieved by this Administration to the American people. She looks forward to working with reporters across the nation.
Congratulations to @KatieZacharia!
Serving as White House Press Secretary is one of the most challenging yet fun jobs on the planet.
I have no doubt Katie will do great work for President Trump and our country.
As I told the President, Katie has my full support and I will be cheering for her and the entire team at the White House every day.
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) October 9, 2026
The schedule is tight. Her first briefing starts Tuesday morning. The Washington Examiner reported that a source said she was shocked by the call. "It came as an absolute, complete surprise," they said. A meeting the week before had included an invitation for her to visit the West Wing. Now she must handle the daily press corps. Trump noted her loyal support in key swing states during the campaign. Via Truth Social, he commented that she possesses a flawless support history and has remained a loyal, brilliant backer since the start. Her task is clear. She must get the record out to the public.
