Trump Selects Katie Zacharia as New White House Press Secretary; She Previously Worked in Beijing fo

U.S. President Donald Trump has selected conservative political commentator Katie Zacharia as the next White House press secretary, according to reports published on October 9, 2026. Zacharia previously spent three years working in Beijing and was employed by a prominent Chinese law firm. Her experience in China has attracted attention following the announcement, prompting renewed interest in her professional background and the role she may play in communicating the administration’s policies.

According to media reports, Zacharia worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing and lived in China for approximately three years. Reports also indicate that she understands some Mandarin and has occasionally used Chinese when interacting with Chinese speakers. The experience represents an international chapter in a career that has since focused largely on American politics, government communications and conservative media.

Zacharia is a lawyer who has worked in political communications and media commentary. She previously served as a spokesperson for former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has appeared on conservative media outlets including Fox News and Newsmax. She currently works as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that operates Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.

Trump praised Zacharia as a loyal and longstanding supporter when announcing his choice. Zacharia, in turn, described the opportunity as an honor and said she intended to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements to the American public. Her selection reflects Trump’s preference for appointing trusted allies who are familiar with his political agenda and can help present his administration’s message.

Zacharia will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the position at the end of August 2026 and is preparing to join Fox News as an on-air contributor. The change marks a new phase for the White House communications team, with attention now turning to how the incoming press secretary will manage briefings, respond to journalists’ questions and explain controversial policy decisions.

The White House press secretary plays a central role in communicating the president’s agenda, explaining government policies and responding to questions from the news media. Because U.S. decisions on foreign policy, trade, national security and technology are closely watched around the world, the position carries significance beyond domestic political communications.

Zacharia’s three years in Beijing have become a notable part of the coverage surrounding her appointment. However, previous professional experience in China does not, by itself, establish a person’s political views or predict their future policy positions. Her statements on China-related issues and her approach to communicating U.S. policy toward Beijing will become clearer as she takes on the role.

As the administration continues to navigate domestic political debates and international challenges, Zacharia’s ability to communicate the government’s position while addressing scrutiny from the press will be an important measure of her performance in the new position.