After Karoline Leavitt left her role as White House Press Secretary at the end of August 2026 to spend more time with her family, President Donald Trump named Katie Zacharia as her replacement on Friday, October 9.
On Tuesday, October 13, Zacharia appeared in the briefing room for the first time on just her second day on the job, and things did not quite go in her favor.
She stayed at the podium for only 15 minutes and spent most of it reading haltingly from a prepared opening statement that heavily praised Trump.
