Fact Check: Is Anna Kelly Trump’s new White House press secretary?

WASHINGTON, DC: Rumors about changes to the White House communications team have surfaced after Katie Zacharia reportedly left her role as press secretary just five days after taking the position in October 2026.

Social media posts have since named Anna Kelly, the principal deputy press secretary, as President Donald Trump’s choice to replace her. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Anna Kelly is Trump's new press secretary

The rumor originated on X, where a user named Dissident posted a claim about President Donald Trump’s next White House press secretary.

The post stated, “Anna Kelly is officially President Trump's next White House Press Secretary. Follow: @WikifirstPost.”

Social media users have been discussing 29-year-old Kelly as a potential replacement for Katie Zacharia, who reportedly left the press secretary role just five days after taking the position in October 2026.

Kelly joined the White House team in February 2026 after working with the Republican National Committee and the Wisconsin GOP.

She holds degrees from Auburn University and George Washington University and previously competed in the Miss State Fair of Virginia pageant.

Kelly is being considered a possible successor because she already serves as principal deputy press secretary and has experience in Republican communications.

Before joining the White House in 2025, she served as the Republican National Committee’s national press secretary and worked as a spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

She has also worked under former press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Zacharia as part of the White House communications team.

Fact Check: False, no evidence to back the viral claim

The claim is false. Anna Kelly has not been officially appointed as the White House press secretary.

Official sources, her X profile, recent interviews, including an appearance on Fox News Radio on October 22, 2026, and her Wikipedia page continue to identify her as principal deputy press secretary.

The position became vacant again after Katie Zacharia reportedly left the role just five days after taking over in mid-October 2026, following Karoline Leavitt’s earlier departure.

Although prediction markets and media reports have named Kelly as a leading contender to replace Zacharia, the White House has not formally announced her appointment.

The original X post came from @WikifirstPost, an account that describes itself as a parody account under the label “Uncyclopedia Politics | AF | Parody.” The post also featured a highly stylized image of Kelly that differed from her official portraits.

As of October 22–23, 2026, no permanent replacement had been officially announced. Kelly continues to serve as principal deputy press secretary while being discussed as a possible successor.