Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary after just 5 days on the job
Her first briefing drew criticism over her bar exam status and a 15-minute appearance with only three reporter questions, officials said.
- On Friday, October 16, 2026, White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is transitioning out after just five days on the job, a senior White House official confirmed to Fox News.
- Zacharia's tenure faced significant hurdles following a widely panned 14-minute debut briefing on Tuesday and revelations she did not pass the California bar exam, triggering watchdog complaints.
- President Donald Trump told reporters he advised Zacharia to "reconsider" the position, stating she had been "brutalized by the media" and that "I think you're better off being happy."
- Zacharia's five-day stint ranks among the shortest in White House history, lasting less than half of Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure as communications director during Trump's first term.
- Trump indicated Zacharia may continue working in his administration in a "more pleasant form," though no permanent press secretary replacement has been announced as the midterm elections approach.
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Trump has signaled that Katie Zacharia, whom he appointed as White House Press Secretary four days ago, may leave her post. When Trump appointed Zacharia, he stated she was a lawyer, but subsequent news reports claimed she did not possess legal licenses. Trump indicated that the press secretary...
White House press secretary Zacharia fired in less than a week after facing criticism
WASHINGTON - White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was fired after less than a week on the job, two US officials said on Friday, after a rocky start as President Donald Trump's top spokesperson.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving the job after a rocky start - The Boston Globe
The shift comes after President Trump cast significant doubt on her future earlier Friday, telling reporters that he would have a discussion with her following his weekend travel — and that if he were her, he would reconsider the job.
Katie Zakaria is no longer the White House press secretary. A US administration official said she was fired after President Donald Trump publicly said he had advised her to consider whether to stay in the job. “I told her, ‘I think you’d be better off being happy, and I’m not sure you can be happy in this environment.’ There’s nothing easy about this job,” Trump told reporters. He added that he advised her to reconsider her situation. “If I were…
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