New White House press secretary
The gist
Trump named Katie Zacharia White House press secretary; she started Oct 12.
Her first briefing ran under 15 minutes, signaling a tighter press strategy.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026Karoline Leavitt left the White House press secretary position, saying she wanted more time with her young children; the post stayed empty for more than a month.
- Oct 9, 2026Trump announced Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator who briefly worked at the Department of Homeland Security, as the next White House press secretary.
- Oct 12, 2026Zacharia started the job Monday and watched from the sidelines as Trump took questions before departing for a campaign trip to Ohio.