What does a White House press secretary do?

Katie Zacharia's short time as White House press secretary has brought renewed attention to the high-profile role.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4597x3065+0+0/resize/4597x3065!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb4%2F88%2Fe01714b14c92b04ca175755c5462%2Fap26286502696919.jpg' alt='White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington.'/><p>Katie Zacharia's short time as White House press secretary has brought renewed attention to the high-profile role.</p><p>(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6006807' />