Trump selects Katie Zacharia as next White House press secretary

By Alayna Treene, Kaitlan Collins, Kristen Holmes, Betsy Klein, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump has selected Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator who worked briefly at the Department of Homeland Security, as his new press secretary.

Zacharia thanked Trump in a social media post Friday, writing, “Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime.”

In announcing her selection earlier Friday, Trump highlighted her work for Truth Social, the Trump Media & Technology Group and her frequent appearances on Fox and Newsmax.

“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning,” he added.

Trump in recent days called a number of his close allies and advisers, including former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to seek their opinion of Zacharia, a person familiar with the discussions said. And the president sought Leavitt’s counsel before making a final decision and offering Zacharia the position, they said.

CNN has reached out to Zacharia, who was in the Oval Office with Trump earlier Friday morning, according to a person familiar.

Zacharia’s selection came about quickly. As of last week, she was not being considered for the role, another person familiar said.

Throughout the search to replace Leavitt, the White House struggled with higher-profile names, several of whom had previously criticized Trump. On multiple occasions, senior officials had narrowed down the list, only to find that candidates had said something negative about the president, disqualifying them from the position, according a White House official.

“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,” Zacharia wrote on X.

“I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out,” she said, adding that “following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting.”

Zacharia’s been a frequent guest on Fox, Newsmax and CNN.

“She’s a friend of most of you,” Trump told reporters while leaving the White House on Friday. “I know she likes people — she likes all of you. Actually, I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but we just hired a new press secretary, and she’s going to be, I think, terrific.”

Zacharia served as a senior communications adviser at the Trump Media and Technology Group and Truth Social since June, which followed a two-month stint as a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security — experiences that Trump also highlighted in his social media post, along with her work in his campaigns.

Zacharia, who has young children and lives in California, commuted back and forth to Washington when she was filling in at DHS. At the time, she told a friend the commute was not sustainable, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Zacharia has also served as a legal adviser for Fix California, a conservative group founded by Trump ally Richard Grenell.

She first came to Washington as an intern for the Republican National Committee during the George W. Bush administration in 2006.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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