WASHINGTON — Katie Zacharia, President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, is leaving the job just five days after starting it, according to White House and U.S. officials who spoke to CNBC and CBS News on Friday, October 16. The New York Times first reported that she had been fired.
Zacharia had succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left the administration in late August shortly after returning from maternity leave. Trump announced Zacharia's appointment in a Truth Social post earlier this month, after she flew to Washington to meet him in person.
Trump urged her to 'reconsider'
The exit came hours after Trump publicly cast doubt on her future. Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, the president said he had suggested that Zacharia reconsider the role. "Is this for you, Katie?" he said, according to The Guardian.
A rocky debut
Zacharia drew widespread criticism over her performance after holding her first briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room on October 13. She also faced growing scrutiny over her legal background. During an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" on Thursday night, she was pressed on whether she could describe herself as an attorney. "I'm being hired as White House press secretary, not White House counsel," she said, according to CNN, which reported that the chilly reception on Fox foreshadowed her departure.
Fox News noted that the official @PressSec account on X, once run by Leavitt, never switched over to Zacharia.
Comparisons to Leavitt
Critics quickly compared Zacharia with her predecessor. "Karoline Leavitt was doing that job while pregnant and was ruthlessly efficient at it," commentator Chris Matthews said, as quoted by CNN. Leavitt, now a Fox News contributor, held about one press briefing a week on average during her tenure.
Trump had at first seemed content to leave the press secretary post vacant after Leavitt's departure. The White House has not yet named a replacement for Zacharia.
What comes next
Her departure makes Zacharia one of the shortest-serving press secretaries in modern White House history, a distinction long associated with Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint as communications director in 2017. It also leaves the administration without a permanent spokesperson weeks before the November midterm elections.
Sources: CNBC, CBS News, CNN, The Guardian, Fox News, People and The New York Times.
Comments (0)
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Your voice matters. Every comment helps build our community.
Discussion Starters
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!