Trump names Leavitt successor after weeks of speculation — and she's no stranger to MAGA

President Donald Trump tapped a trusted ally from the company behind his Truth Social platform to become his next White House press secretary Friday, naming attorney and television commentator Katie Zacharia to succeed Karoline Leavitt.

Two White House officials confirmed the selection to Fox News Digital before Trump publicly announced the appointment on X.

Zacharia, an attorney and frequent television commentator, currently serves as senior communications adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the president's social media platform, Truth Social.

She will succeed former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

"It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia.

Katie currently serves as Senior Communications Advisor to Truth Social (Trump Media & Technology Group), where she has been outstanding!" Trump wrote Friday afternoon.

KAROLINE LEAVITT JOINS FOX NEWS AS CONTRIBUTOR AFTER LEAVING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROLE Zacharia celebrated the appointment in a post on X , thanking Trump for what she called the "distinguished privilege" of serving as White House press secretary.

"Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime," Zacharia wrote.

"President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day.

His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country." Zacharia said her focus would be on communicating the administration's accomplishments to the American public while working with reporters across the country.

"The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day," she wrote.

"I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out." She also acknowledged the expectations that come with succeeding Leavitt.

"Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting," Zacharia wrote.

Zacharia previously served briefly as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security following the departure of Tricia McLaughlin, who had served as press secretary under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.