Katie Zacharia is set to take the podium as the new White House press secretary on Tuesday, entering the role as Donald Trump faces record-low popularity, Republican concerns over the midterm elections and an increasingly hostile relationship with sections of the press.
The 41-year-old attorney and mother of four has been a prominent supporter of the president and the Make America Great Again movement. Announcing her appointment, Trump praised her “unblemished record of support” and described her as a “devoted fan and member of MAGA”.
Zacharia said the role was the “honor of a lifetime” and praised the president’s policies. “His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country,” she wrote in a social media post.
Her arrival comes during a legal dispute between the administration and news organisations covering the White House. Last month, access was restricted for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which Trump regards as unfriendly, while the Justice Department launched an investigation into five television networks that share pool video coverage of the president.
Katie Zacharia’s conservative background
Zacharia studied at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and has worked with several conservative organisations. She served on the advisory board of The White Rose Resistance, an anti-abortion group whose name refers to Christian students who opposed the Nazis.
She later became a communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the president’s Truth Social platform, and appeared regularly as a pro-Trump commentator on Fox News and Newsmax.
During an August appearance on Real America’s Voice, Zacharia discussed the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who was charged with killing her three children. The five-week trial ended in a mistrial after prompting a national debate about postpartum depression.
Zacharia argued that “toxic feminism” had influenced the public’s view of the case and linked the discussion to abortion. “When women are championing the death and murder and the ability to murder their children from conception all the way through, when does humanity begin and end?” she said.
Her social media history has also included posts amplifying right-wing conspiracy theories, including unproven claims about Democratic leaders and paedophile rings. In a 2022 post, she referred to former Democratic White House chief of staff John Podesta as “Pedo Podesta”, and shared a post alleging that Democrats “want to mask and rape your children”.
The White House was asked to comment on the posts, which were first highlighted by the progressive media organisation Popular Information, but administration officials did not respond.
Despite the controversy, Zacharia received public backing from senior figures in the administration. FBI director Kash Patel called her “sharp, fearless” and said she understood what it meant to stand up for the American people.
Karoline Leavitt, who held the press secretary position until stepping down in August, said: “I have no doubt Katie will do great work for President Trump and our country.”
In a Fox News appearance on Saturday, Zacharia defended Trump’s controversial proposal to import Russian diesel fuel, which has faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. She also praised his efforts to build Republican support ahead of the November vote, while suggesting congressional Republicans could bear responsibility for any electoral losses.
“President Trump has made the case and delivered historic results. I would have loved to see more from our congressional Republicans and Senate,” she said.
