President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has selected Katie Zacharia to serve as the next White House press secretary, succeeding Karoline Leavitt. Zacharia, who has recently worked as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, will assume the role following Leavitt’s departure earlier this year.

Zacharia, an attorney and mother of four, is currently a senior communications adviser to the Trump Media & Technology Group and has made frequent appearances on conservative television outlets. She previously served as a commentator on Fox News and Newsmax, and held the position of director of development at Pepperdine University, where she earned both her undergraduate and law degrees. Early in her career, she also worked overseas in China.

President Trump praised Zacharia on his social media platform, describing her as a loyal supporter with an “unblemished record” and a devoted member of the MAGA movement. A California resident, she visited the White House twice over the past few weeks and met with Trump during her most recent visit, according to a person familiar with the offer. During a trip to the West Coast this summer, Trump reportedly congratulated Zacharia via text messages after seeing her on television.

Though Zacharia is not a longstanding figure in Washington circles, sources familiar with the decision described her as a close associate within Trump’s inner circle who fits the president’s preferred profile for the position. She has established connections with several of Trump’s key advisers, including White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. While at DHS, she worked closely with Lauren Bis, now senior deputy White House press secretary.

Zacharia is expected to maintain a direct line of communication to the president, a feature Trump values highly in the press secretary role. Leavitt, who served as the first press secretary of Trump’s second term after working on his 2024 campaign, had become a trusted adviser to the president. She stepped down after giving birth to her second child in May.

The transition marks a continuation of Trump’s preference for appointing press secretaries who are closely aligned with his communications team and ideological stance. Zacharia’s background in conservative media and her recent governmental experience position her as a key figure in shaping messaging for the remainder of Trump’s current term.