Katie Zacharia leaves White House press secretary role after five days
President Donald Trump had publicly urged Zacharia to reconsider the job after a difficult first briefing and questions about how she described her legal credentials.
Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary after five days in the job in Washington, Deadline reported Friday, citing a White House official. CBS News separately reported that two U.S. officials said she was being removed. The change leaves President Donald Trump’s administration needing a new public spokesperson after her first week in the role.
The reports differ on how to describe her exit. CBS News said The New York Times first reported that Zacharia had been fired, while the New Zealand Herald cited a person familiar with the situation who said she was out of the role. Trump had said publicly that he would speak with Zacharia when he returned from a campaign trip and would leave the decision to her. The formal circumstances of her departure were not immediately clear.
Trump’s remarks after Zacharia’s first briefing
Zacharia’s first White House briefing was on October 13 and lasted 14 minutes, according to Deadline. CBS News reported that she said she received her briefing materials that morning. Her short debut drew criticism, adding pressure to a job in which the press secretary answers questions on behalf of the administration.
Before her departure was reported, Trump told reporters he had asked Zacharia to reconsider whether the job was right for her. ‘Katie has been treated very badly by the media,’ he said, according to Deadline. He singled out her appearances on Fox News programs Hannity and Fox & Friends, saying their hosts had been ‘a little bit tough’ on her.
Those appearances followed questions about Zacharia’s description of herself as a lawyer. CBS News reported that she acknowledged failing the California bar exam in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine Law School. The New Zealand Herald reported that she was not licensed in another state. Trump said the press had treated her unfairly as the questions continued.
Zacharia’s possible next role
CBS News reported that Zacharia was seen at the White House on Friday morning. She and her family had been invited to dinner that evening with Vice President JD Vance, the network said. CBS also reported, citing people familiar with discussions, that she was expected to take another administration role soon. No new position had been confirmed, and the White House had not identified a replacement for press secretary.
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Sources and context
- Katie Zacharia Out As Trump's White House Press SecretaryDeadline
- Katie Zacharia out as White House press secretary after first week on the jobCBS News; cites The New York Times as first to report the firing
- White House official confirms press secretary fired after five daysThe New Zealand Herald
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.