Advisers Say Katie Zacharia Fired As White House Press Secretary
1 hour ago
President Donald Trump has fired Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary after just five days on the job, according to advisers to the president.
Trump told reporters Friday that he had encouraged Zacharia to reconsider the position, suggesting her brief tenure was coming to an end.
“Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump said he told her, adding that he did not believe she needed the job.
Trump praised Zacharia as a loyal supporter and said she had been treated unfairly by the media. However, he acknowledged that the role might not be the right fit.
Zacharia faced intense scrutiny following her first White House press briefing Tuesday, when she appeared nervous and answered just three questions. Questions also emerged about her professional background after she struggled to explain her legal credentials.
Although Trump initially viewed her debut more favorably than some of his advisers, subsequent media interviews and discussions with allies reportedly contributed to the decision to remove her from the role.
Zacharia gained Trump's attention as a conservative television commentator before being selected as press secretary. A White House official said she was transitioning out of the position, while an adviser said she would leave the White House in the coming days.
Despite her departure, sources close to the president said Trump continues to respect Zacharia personally. She and her family were also scheduled to have dinner Friday with Vice President JD Vance and his family.
Her five-day tenure makes her one of the shortest-serving senior communications officials in the Trump administration, ending even sooner than Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint as White House communications director in 2017.
Trump told reporters Friday that he had encouraged Zacharia to reconsider the position, suggesting her brief tenure was coming to an end.
“Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump said he told her, adding that he did not believe she needed the job.
Trump praised Zacharia as a loyal supporter and said she had been treated unfairly by the media. However, he acknowledged that the role might not be the right fit.
Zacharia faced intense scrutiny following her first White House press briefing Tuesday, when she appeared nervous and answered just three questions. Questions also emerged about her professional background after she struggled to explain her legal credentials.
Although Trump initially viewed her debut more favorably than some of his advisers, subsequent media interviews and discussions with allies reportedly contributed to the decision to remove her from the role.
Zacharia gained Trump's attention as a conservative television commentator before being selected as press secretary. A White House official said she was transitioning out of the position, while an adviser said she would leave the White House in the coming days.
Despite her departure, sources close to the president said Trump continues to respect Zacharia personally. She and her family were also scheduled to have dinner Friday with Vice President JD Vance and his family.
Her five-day tenure makes her one of the shortest-serving senior communications officials in the Trump administration, ending even sooner than Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint as White House communications director in 2017.
