Trump Removes Katie Zacharia as White House Press Secretary After Just Five Days: ‘You’re Better Off Being Happy’

Trump Fires Katie Zacharia After Just Five Days as White House Press Secretary

US President Donald Trump has removed White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia from her position after only five days, The New York Times reported. The move followed a difficult first briefing, growing scrutiny of her professional qualifications and Trump’s own remarks suggesting she reconsider whether the demanding role was worth continuing.

Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday before departing for Georgia, Trump said he had told Zacharia that she had been treated unfairly by the media and did not need to face the pressure associated with the position.

“I told Katie in my opinion she was treated very unfairly,” Trump said, describing her treatment by journalists as brutal.

He added that he had advised her that there was no reason for her to endure such scrutiny, pointing to her family and life outside the White House. Asked about a possible successor, Trump said several people would be interested in taking on the job.

First Briefing Lasted Just 14 Minutes

Zacharia’s exit came after her first appearance in the White House briefing room on Tuesday, October 13, attracted criticism. The session lasted approximately 14 minutes, with questions taken from reporters representing three media organisations. Much of her presentation focused on prepared remarks praising Trump and his administration.

One widely discussed moment occurred when Zacharia mistakenly referred to Trump as “my husband” before correcting herself. Her husband is Tyler Zacharia, an entertainment and investment executive. The verbal slip quickly circulated on social media and prompted questions about her readiness for the role.

She also faced questions about whether the United States had halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. Zacharia did not provide an immediate answer, telling the reporter, “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

Her brief appearance and hesitant responses fuelled further criticism. Trump initially defended her performance but later acknowledged that a change was being made, saying, “She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading, so we’re making a change.”

Questions Raised Over Legal Qualifications

Zacharia’s professional credentials also came under scrutiny during her short tenure. When Trump announced her appointment, he introduced her as an attorney. However, during an interview with Fox News, she acknowledged that she had failed the California bar examination in 2011 and had not attempted it again.

Reuters reported that it could not locate records showing that she was registered as an attorney or admitted to the bar in any US state or the District of Columbia. Zacharia has defended her experience, stating that she had worked in international transaction law.

The questions surrounding her credentials added to the attention generated by her first briefing and her handling of questions from reporters.

From Trump Media to the White House

Before joining the White House, Zacharia served as a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social. She also appeared on conservative news networks, including Fox News and Newsmax, and briefly worked as a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security.

She was appointed on October 9 to succeed Karoline Leavitt, who had left the position in August. Zacharia began work the following Monday and conducted her first briefing a day later.

Her departure after just five days marks an unusually brief tenure in the high-profile role of White House press secretary.