Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator whom President Donald Trump picked as his new White House press secretary, will make her formal debut from the briefing room podium on Oct. 13.
"I am pleased to announce that Katie Zacharia will be beginning her term as Press Secretary tomorrow, Columbus Day, and will be doing an introductory News Conference on Tuesday at 9:30 A.M. from the Press Briefing Room in the White House. Katie has been with me, in spirit, from the very beginning, and will do a fantastic job!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Zacharia is assuming the role as one of the most visible members of the administration just three weeks ahead of the crucial Nov. 3 midterm elections. She's set to serve as a key defender of Trump as his
poll numbers have dropped to historic lows amid an unpopular war and rise in gas prices. The president frequently complains that his accomplishments have not adequately been conveyed to the American people amid his feuds with members of the media.
"We’re doing a great job in running the country, but we’re not doing a good job of public relations," he said at a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, on Oct. 1.
Zacharia, 41, who briefly worked as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, is a senior communications advisor at Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that runs Truth Social.
An attorney by training, and frequent commentator on news channels including Newsmax and Fox News, she is the seventh woman in a row to serve as White House press secretary.
"She was previously involved in my Campaigns, assisting in key Swing States, where we won 7 out of 7. She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Zacharia was tapped for the role after Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, left her position in August.
Trump frequently praised Leavitt for her sparring with reporters and posted an ode to her on Oct. 11, just moments before he announced Zacharia would start her official position on Columbus Day and take the podium the following day.
"I just want to pay my respect and thanks to Karoline Leavitt for the fantastic job she has done as White House Press Secretary — Could not have been better!" he wrote on Truth Social.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump announces new press secretary's debut from White House podium
