President Trump announced Friday that Katie Zacharia will serve as the next White House Press Secretary, elevating a figure he described as widely respected by the press corps to the administration's most visible communications post.
"It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia," the President said in a post from the official White House account. "I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American."
Speaking to reporters, the President kept his remarks personal, telling the press corps that Zacharia is a familiar presence in the briefing room.
"She's a great person. So that's right, Katie is going to be the press secretary. She's a friend of most of you. I know she likes people. She likes all of you actually. I don't know if that's good or bad," Trump said. "But we just hired a new press secretary. And she's going to be I think terrific."
First Day Set for Monday
Zacharia said she will begin the job Monday. Asked when her first briefing would be, she did not commit to a date.
"Well, my first day on the job, Jesse, is Monday. I don't know if that's a briefing, but President Trump is at full of surprises. So I'm looking forward to serving him and the American people and working more with you, Jesse," she said.
The response from the administration's rapid response operation was immediate: "CONGRATULATIONS, @KatieZacharia!"
The President's announcement emphasized that Zacharia's standing with the media was central to the decision, framing her relationships in the briefing room as an asset for the administration rather than a liability.
Zacharia's own comments struck the same note, describing a working relationship with the press as part of the job she is taking on.
The appointment was announced publicly by the President himself. Aides did not release additional details about a formal swearing-in or a transition timeline beyond Zacharia's stated Monday start.
