NYT: Katie Zakaria picked as White House press secretary, replacing Leavitt
In short
Katie Zakaria (Кэти Закария), a 42-year-old conservative commentator, has been chosen as the next White House press secretary in Donald Trump's administration, Russian outlets reported citing The New York Times. She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the post in August. Outlets differ on her current job: Kommersant says she works at the conservative organisation Fix California, while RBC and RIA Novosti say she is a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group.
Read the full story 2 min read
Katie Zakaria (Кэти Закария), a 42-year-old conservative commentator, has been chosen as the next White House press secretary in Donald Trump's administration, Kommersant, RBC and RIA Novosti reported on 9 October, all citing The New York Times. RBC said the NYT relied on two sources familiar with the situation. Zakaria replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the post in August. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets differ on where Zakaria works now. Kommersant said she is employed by Fix California, a conservative political organisation founded in 2021 by Trump supporter Richard Grenell to promote the Republican agenda in traditionally Democratic California. RBC and RIA Novosti, citing the NYT, said she is a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, which RIA described as the company running the social network Truth Social. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
RIA Novosti quoted the NYT as writing that Zakaria, "a conservative commentator who worked briefly at the US Department of Homeland Security, was selected as the next White House press secretary." RIA said she had briefly been press secretary to Kristi Noem, who served as homeland security secretary from January 2025 to March 2026. Kommersant said Zakaria spent about three months at the department in early 2026 and was close to Noem and to special adviser Corey Lewandowski at the time. [ 1 , 3 ]
According to Kommersant, Zakaria was born in Los Angeles and holds two degrees, in political science and law. As a student she led the campus Republican chapter and the Christian Legal Society. She is married to Tyler Zakaria, managing director of Moriah Media Los Angeles, and they have four children. She regularly appears on Fox News in support of Trump; RIA Novosti likewise said she speaks regularly in conservative media. [ 1 , 3 ]
Leavitt left the press secretary post citing family circumstances and a wish to spend more time with her children, Kommersant reported. She stayed in Trump's political team as an outside strategic communications adviser to the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement and will become a political commentator on Fox News from 1 November. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The press secretary is the public voice of the Trump administration, and the post has been vacant since Leavitt's departure in August. The reports rely on anonymous sources cited by The New York Times, and the outlets disagree on Zakaria's current employer.
Key facts
- Katie Zakaria (Кэти Закария) has been selected as the next White House press secretary, The New York Times reported citing sources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the post in August. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Zakaria is 42, born in Los Angeles, and holds degrees in political science and law, Kommersant reported. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant says she currently works at Fix California, a conservative organisation founded in 2021 by Richard Grenell; RBC and RIA Novosti say she is a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She briefly worked at the Department of Homeland Security; RIA Novosti says she was press secretary to Kristi Noem, Kommersant says she spent about three months there in early 2026. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Leavitt left citing family circumstances and remained an outside strategic communications adviser to the MAGA movement; she becomes a Fox News political commentator from 1 November, Kommersant reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Katie Zakaria has been chosen as the next White House press secretary, according to The New York Times citing sources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who left the post in August. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Zakaria previously worked briefly at the US Department of Homeland Security. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Zakaria regularly appears in conservative media, including Fox News, in support of Trump. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Zakaria's current employer Kommersant says she works at Fix California; RBC and RIA Novosti, citing the NYT, say she is a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, which runs Truth Social.
- Her exact role at the Department of Homeland Security RIA Novosti says she briefly served as press secretary to Kristi Noem; Kommersant says she worked about three months there in early 2026 and was close to Noem and special adviser Corey Lewandowski, without naming a title.
- Official confirmation of the appointment All three outlets rely on The New York Times citing anonymous sources; no White House statement is reported.