WASHINGTON — Katie Zacharia is on her way out as White House press secretary, only days after she started the job. Sources told ABC News she is “transitioning out” of the role. NBC News is also carrying a report in which President Donald Trump says he let her decide to leave.
The reasons haven’t been spelled out in the coverage reviewed for this story. The White House hasn’t released a detailed public account, and the timeline of how this happened is still thin. The background is clearer, so here it is.
How she got the job
Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt, who stepped away to spend more time with her young family. Leavitt left at the end of August, after giving birth to her second child. She had been press secretary since January 2025. Trump said Leavitt would stay on as one of his top outside advisers.
Trump announced on a Friday, through his Truth Social platform, that Zacharia would take over. At the time she was a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind that platform. She had also worked as a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax. She holds a law degree from Pepperdine University.
Trump said she would start on Monday, Columbus Day, and hold her first news conference the next morning at 9:30.
Her short time at the lectern
Her first appearance in the briefing room was brief. She took a handful of questions and then cut the session short. She explained that Trump was heading to Marine One for a trip to Alaska, and that reporters could ask him their questions there.
She described her approach in simple terms. She said her goal was to amplify what Trump is doing, and called him his own best spokesperson. She said she saw the job as no different from the way she advocated for him outside government.
Her first question came from Breitbart News. She also committed to keeping the “new media” rotation her predecessor created, which brings more outlets into briefings and the press pool.
She made news at that briefing too. Zacharia said Trump had asked for the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, and she called Guilfoyle a wonderful asset to the team.
Trump was supportive afterward. As he left for Alaska, he told reporters she did excellent and very good, while she stood behind him.
Her earlier stint at Homeland Security
This isn’t the first time Zacharia has left a government communications job quickly. She was assigned a spokesperson role at the Department of Homeland Security in mid-February. She announced her exit on April 1, after about six weeks.
In a post on X, she said she looked forward to continuing the work in other capacities. The Daily Beast reported she was pushed out over her close ties to Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee. Zacharia denied that report. She told Just the News she first met Lewandowski, then-Secretary Kristi Noem and Tricia McLaughlin at a February meeting about a media role. She said her decision was mostly driven by the strain that regular travel to and from California put on her family.
Why the timing matters
The press secretary is one of the most visible jobs in the White House. The person in it faces reporters most days and speaks for the president on nearly every topic. The administration is also heading toward next month’s midterm elections. A change at the podium this close to those elections means the White House will need someone in the role quickly.
What we don’t know yet
Several basic questions are still open:
- No official reason for the departure has been confirmed in the reports reviewed.
- It is unclear when Zacharia’s last day will be.
- No successor has been named.
- It is unclear who will handle briefings in the meantime.
The phrase “transitioning out” suggests a gradual handoff rather than an immediate exit, but the sources haven’t said how long that handoff will take.
What to watch next
Expect the White House to address the change in the next few days, either through a formal statement or at the next briefing. Trump has often announced personnel moves himself on Truth Social, as he did when he named Zacharia, so a post from him is a likely way to learn who comes next.
This story is developing and will be updated as more details are confirmed.
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