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Katie Zacharia offered White House press secretary job to succeed Karoline Leavitt

A White House official says conservative commentator Katie Zacharia has been offered the post of press secretary, vacant since Karoline Leavitt left in August. Whether she has accepted was not confirmed in some reports.

19 outlets · 8L · 5C · 6R First reported Account updated
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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2A White House official said on Friday 9 October that conservative commentator Katie Zacharia has been offered the job of White House press secretary. Left · 3The Independent and CBS News say the New York Times was first to report the pick; CBS said the White House did not confirm whether she has accepted, while Newsweek described her as already appointed. Mixed · 2She would replace Karoline Leavitt, who left in August; the Independent says Leavitt resigned to spend more time with her two young children after giving birth, and she would be Trump's sixth press secretary across his two administrations.

Mixed · 2Most outlets say Zacharia is a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, parent of Truth Social, citing her LinkedIn page; the New York Post instead says she is currently at Fix California, Richard Grenell's group. Mixed · 3She briefly worked as a Homeland Security spokesperson earlier this year, described as about three months by the Post and roughly a month by the Independent, leaving in March. Left · 3She is a frequent guest on Fox News and Newsmax, a Pepperdine graduate, a past Bush White House intern or staffer, and an ally of Grenell, and she wrote an op-ed calling Trump "the greatest president in U.S. history."

Right · 1The New York Post says her selection could upend dynamics in Trump's inner circle because Corey Lewandowski and Grenell, whom she was reported close to, are not fans of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Left · 2Coverage notes a gym op-ed in which she said her "Team Trump 2024" hat caused a dispute; CBS added that the First Amendment restricts government censorship, not private businesses. Mixed · 2The appointment comes weeks before the November midterms; the Independent and CBS note the briefing room has hosted few briefings since Leavitt left, with Vice President JD Vance giving the last on 3 September per CBS.

Left · 1Raw Story, citing CNN, says Trump polled advisers, including Leavitt, on the choice, and that Leavitt is due to start as a Fox News contributor on 1 November.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left8 outlets

Framing
Sourced reports on the offer, with background on her record; Raw Story and CBS stress the gym-hat episode and her partisan media profile.
Emphasis
Her Fox News ties, the MAGA-hat gym op-ed, unconfirmed acceptance, and the long gap in briefings.
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the Grenell/Lewandowski versus Wiles dynamic the Post raised.
Charged language
“went nuclear”
For example
“Trump’s new press secretary pick once went nuclear on her kickboxing gym over a MAGA hat” — Raw Story
“The White House did not confirm whether she has accepted the offer.” — CBS News

Centre5 outlets

Framing
Brief, neutral news reports of the offer, with her job title and role.
Emphasis
Her Trump Media role, the Leavitt succession and the midterm context.
Leaves out or plays down
Few details on her political ties or the inner-circle angle.
For example
“would become the president's sixth chief spokesperson across his two administrations” — BBC News
“places her in one of the administration’s most prominent public-facing positions” — Newsweek

Right6 outlets

Framing
Scoop-style reports led by the New York Post, emphasising her loyalty and White House-politics implications.
Emphasis
Her Fox appearances as an "ardent defender" of Trump, ties to Noem, Lewandowski and Grenell, and tension with Susie Wiles.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the gym-hat dispute or the lack of briefings.
Charged language
“ardent defender”“hardline Trump supporter”
For example
“Zacharia is a frequent guest on Fox News where she is an ardent defender of President Trump.” — New York Post
“Known as a hardline Trump supporter” — New York Post