Katie Zacharia has been offered the White House press secretary job, sources confirmed.
Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, is currently working at Fix California, the conservative advocacy organization led by Richard Grenell. The offer was extended last week, though it remains unclear whether she has formally accepted the position that opened after Karoline Leavitt’s departure.
At DHS, Zacharia spent roughly three months in early 2026 before leaving once Markwayne Mullin took over as secretary. She maintained close ties to then-Secretary Kristi Noem and special adviser Corey Lewandowski during her tenure there, according to reports from her time in the department.
Her exit from DHS came with a practical explanation. “A mom of four, Zacharia blamed the long commute from California for her departure from DHS, telling Just the News it put a strain on her family,” the source material noted. That cross-country arrangement proved unsustainable for the Arizona native.
Zacharia’s media presence has been building steadily. She appears frequently on Fox News as an ardent defender of President Trump, a platform that has raised her profile within conservative circles and likely contributed to her selection for the press secretary role.
Her political resume stretches back to the George W. Bush administration. She interned for the Republican National Committee during college and later worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs during Bush’s second term, giving her nearly two decades of experience in Republican politics at the federal level.
The potential appointment carries significant internal implications. Lewandowski and Grenell, both allies of Zacharia, are reportedly not fans of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. If Zacharia takes the job, those existing tensions could reshape the power dynamics within Trump’s inner circle.
Leavitt, who previously held the press secretary post, has already moved on to a contributor role at Fox News. Her exit created the opening that Zacharia now appears positioned to fill, though the White House has not issued a formal announcement about the transition.
Zacharia’s hardline support for Trump aligns her with the administration’s communications approach. Her LinkedIn profile highlights a long background in Republican politics, and her on-air commentary has consistently backed the president’s policies and positions.
The Fix California role represents Grenell’s effort to advance conservative priorities in the Democratic-leaning state. Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, has remained an influential figure in MAGA-world circles.
Whether Zacharia’s family situation would accommodate a move to Washington remains an open question. Her previous departure from federal service stemmed specifically from the California commute, and the press secretary role would require full-time residence in the capital.
Trump has not publicly commented on the selection process, and the White House did not respond to inquiries about the status of the offer. The president has historically valued loyalty and television presence in his communications staff, criteria that Zacharia appears to meet.
Zacharia would be the latest in a series of press secretaries serving under Trump, a position that has seen unusually high turnover across both of his presidential terms. The role requires daily briefings with the press corps and frequent travel with the president.