Trump taps Kristi Noem’s ex mouthpiece Katie Zacharia to replace Karoline Leavitt for White House press secretary
Donald Trump has appointed Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and former Homeland Security spokeswoman, as White House press secretary. She will replace Karoline Leavitt, who resigned at the end of August to spend more time with her children, ending a vacancy of more than a month.
Zacharia served for six weeks under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem before leaving in March; reports linked her departure to her ties to adviser Corey Lewandowski, though she said travel between Washington and California was difficult for her family. She has since advised Trump Media and Technology Group, and her appointment comes weeks before midterm elections that could put Republican control of Congress at risk. She will be the seventh woman in a row to hold the role.
- Trump appointed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary.
- She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August.
- Her short stint at Homeland Security drew controversy.
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The White House press secretary is the principal spokesperson for the American president, responsible for communicating government policies to journalists and the public. It is a high-visibility position that influences how the presidency presents itself to the media.
Katie Zacharia is a conservative commentator and former spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. She worked for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for six weeks before leaving in March; reports linked her departure to her association with Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, though she attributed it to the difficulty of managing family responsibilities between Washington and California.
The White House press secretary role had been vacant for more than a month following Karoline Leavitt's resignation at the end of August to focus on her family. The appointment takes place as midterm elections approach, a key moment in the political calendar.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Zacharia brings substantive experience from her tenure as a Homeland Security spokeswoman and her work as a conservative media commentator, providing genuine knowledge of the administration's policy positions and communication strategy. Her ideological alignment with Trump and demonstrated media acumen position her to effectively represent the administration, whilst her appointment addresses a month-long vacancy at a strategically important moment.
The case against
Her six-week tenure at Homeland Security raises legitimate questions about her ability to sustain performance in demanding roles, and circumstances surrounding her departure—though officially attributed to family reasons—have been linked to workplace complications that warrant concern. Moreover, her lack of traditional press secretary experience leaves significant uncertainty about her readiness for the role's rigorous demands, particularly with pivotal midterm elections weeks away.