Conservative commentator Katie Zacharia has been offered the position of White House press secretary, a White House official confirmed to the BBC.
Background and career
Zacharia currently works as a communications adviser for the Trump Media & Technology Group. If she assumes the role, she will become the president’s sixth chief spokesperson across his two administrations. She succeeds former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August and reportedly took a job with Fox News.
The 42-year-old political strategist is a frequent presence on conservative networks such as Newsmax and Fox News. Her background in Republican politics includes working as an intern for the Republican National Committee and for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Bush administration in 2006.
Professional history and education
According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia has served as a senior communications adviser for Trump’s media company and the Truth Social platform since June. She also had a brief stint as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security from February to March, which she later stated she left due to the strain of travel between California and Washington on her family.
A lawyer educated at Pepperdine University in California, Zacharia has four children. Her legal and advocacy experience also includes serving as general counsel for Fix California, a conservative advocacy group founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell. In 2011, she spent nearly two years clerking at a law firm in Beijing, China.
Role of the press secretary
The press secretary’s responsibilities extend beyond the briefing room podium, encompassing the management of contentious relationships with journalists, coordination with various parts of the White House, and providing media advice to the president. The office also oversees a high volume of daily inquiries and requests.
