Trump Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Out After Five Days: What We Know

Katie Zacharia, President Donald Trump's newest press secretary, is on her way out after about five days in the job, according to Fox News. The White House is again searching for someone to serve as its main voice at the podium, roughly two weeks before the midterm elections.

Here is what is known so far, based on reporting by Fox News and the reactions it gathered from White House journalists.

What happened to Zacharia?

Zacharia gave her first briefing on Tuesday, following the August departure of her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt. On Friday, Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy reported that she would be "transitioning out" of the role.

The report came after Trump sounded unsure about her when he spoke to reporters. He said he had asked her directly, "Katie, is this really for you?" and told her he would reconsider in her position. He added later that the job might not be right for her.

How did her debut go?

According to Fox News, critics pointed to a nervous demeanor, and she called on only three reporters during the briefing. Several White House correspondents who spoke to Fox News Digital described the performance as a rough start. One said they knew within two minutes of her prepared remarks that she would not last.

Another reporter said she might have done better with more time to prepare. A third said they had expected basic communication skills and did not see them. The correspondents were not named in the report.

What role did her claims about being a lawyer play?

Fox News said her repeated claims of having been a lawyer may have damaged her prospects more than the briefing itself. One reporter called that issue a "bigger threat" than her single appearance at the podium. Another described her résumé as embellished. The report does not lay out the details of those claims, and neither Zacharia nor the White House is quoted addressing them.

What are the White House and the press corps saying?

White House communications director Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital that reporters were mocking her. He said they could never do such a job themselves, and that they complain loudly when they are the ones being criticized.

One correspondent blamed Trump rather than Zacharia, saying the president wanted a new press secretary quickly and was impatient with advice to wait. That reporter said chief of staff Susie Wiles had wanted more time to find a more experienced candidate. The reporter also named communications staffers Anna Kelly and Lauren Bis as people who could handle the job, though not in the mold Trump prefers. Another correspondent said it hardly matters who holds the job, arguing that Trump's changing positions leave his aides looking foolish.

NBC News White House correspondent Garrett Haake wrote on X that the episode points to a "bigger problem" for the White House. He said the administration is struggling to drive a message, citing meandering rallies, staff stories drawing attention, hard-to-hear gaggles and a lack of briefings.

Why does it matter?

The press secretary is the administration's regular public spokesperson. One correspondent told Fox News that the job requires speaking to the American people on the president's behalf. With the position vacant again and the midterms close, the way the White House presents its message to voters and the press is in flux.

Haake's comments suggest that formal briefings, one of the main ways reporters question the administration on the record, have been scarce. The sources do not say when they might resume.

What happens next?

Trump's search for a new press secretary is continuing, Fox News reported. Leavitt, who left the post in August, has since joined Fox News as a contributor. No successor or timeline has been announced.

Source: Fox News