Katie Zacharia holds first briefing as Trump's new White House press secretary
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In brief
Katie Zacharia took the podium for the first time as White House press secretary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. She announced that the administration had asked Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign and outlined an expanded midterm campaign schedule for President Trump.
Katie Zacharia held her first official briefing as White House press secretary on Tuesday morning, October 13, 2026, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. She began her opening remarks by saying she was honored to serve President Donald Trump and had long wanted to work for him, according to Fox News and PBS NewsHour.
President Trump announced Zacharia's appointment on Truth Social the previous week. She officially started the role on Monday, October 12, with her first formal news conference scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET, Fox News and PBS NewsHour reported.
Who is Katie Zacharia
Zacharia is an attorney and conservative television commentator who most recently served as senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, according to Fox News. She also previously worked as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs and spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. PBS NewsHour similarly described her as a conservative commentator who had advised the company behind the president's social media platform.
During the briefing, Zacharia referred to balancing her new role with her family, noting she has four children who will relocate to Washington, D.C., and that she had stayed home with them from 2014 to 2020, Fox News reported.
Why there was a vacancy
Zacharia succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who had served as Trump's press secretary for 19 months before leaving the post on August 27, according to Fox News. PBS NewsHour reported that Leavitt stepped down following the birth of her second child. During the vacancy, senior officials including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche had taken turns leading press briefings, Fox News said.
Guilfoyle resignation announced
The dominant topic of the briefing was the departure of Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia said the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, describing her as a valuable member of the team and wishing her well, according to Newsweek and Fox News.
The announcement followed reporting by The Wall Street Journal, cited by NBC News, that documented allegations Guilfoyle had bragged about ties to Greek business figures who funded luxury trips and had sought financial help from a Trump donor. Donor Eric Deters told NBC News that Guilfoyle asked him shortly before her 2025 Senate confirmation hearing to pay off a roughly $100,000 American Express debt, allegedly in exchange for access to administration officials, which NBC News reported he described as a quid pro quo arrangement. NBC News noted some of the Journal's reported allegations remain unverified by NBC. The State Department's Office of Inspector General is investigating Guilfoyle and the U.S. Embassy in Greece, NBC News reported.
Guilfoyle's attorneys have denied wrongdoing, saying the money she sought from Deters was payment for speaking engagements and public appearances that predated her nomination and that she followed proper State Department travel procedures, according to NBC News.
Before the resignation request was announced, Trump had told reporters on Monday that his administration was considering removing Guilfoyle and that he was not happy with her conduct, a shift from more favorable comments he had made on Friday, NBC News reported.
Other topics at the briefing
Zacharia also announced that Trump would expand his midterm election campaign schedule to include stops in Georgia, Kentucky and Florida, according to Fox News.
Asked whether the United States had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, Zacharia declined to give specifics, saying she would need to confirm the information after the briefing, Fox News reported.
We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.
— Katie Zacharia, White House press secretary
Reaction
Former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer praised Zacharia's appointment, describing her as a strong supporter of the MAGA movement who would work well with the press corps, according to Fox News.
Questions
Who is Katie Zacharia?
She is an attorney and conservative commentator who previously served as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group and as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, according to Fox News.
When did Katie Zacharia become White House press secretary?
She officially started on Monday, October 12, 2026, and held her first formal briefing on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Fox News and PBS NewsHour reported.
Who was press secretary before Zacharia?
Karoline Leavitt held the role for 19 months before leaving on August 27, 2026; PBS NewsHour reported she stepped down after the birth of her second child.
What did Zacharia announce about Kimberly Guilfoyle?
She said the White House had asked Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, to resign, following allegations reported by The Wall Street Journal and NBC News about improper conduct and a disputed $100,000 debt payment request.
Did Guilfoyle respond to the allegations?
Her attorneys denied wrongdoing, telling NBC News the disputed payment was for pre-nomination speaking engagements and that she followed proper travel procedures as ambassador.
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