White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia has left her position after less than a week in the high-profile role, following criticism over her debut press briefing and questions about her professional legal credentials.
A White House official confirmed her departure to AFP on Friday after Fox News reported that Zacharia, 41, was “transitioning out” of the position. Her exit was also reported by Reuters and The Associated Press.
The development followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who indicated that he had advised the newly appointed spokeswoman to reconsider her position.
“I said, ‘Katie, is this for you?’” Trump told reporters. “I said, ‘Katie, you don’t have to do this’… I said to her, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider.’”
Zacharia’s brief tenure drew comparisons with that of Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director whose 11-day stint during Trump’s first administration became widely mocked for its brevity.
Scaramucci reacted to the news on X, writing, “Records are made to be broken,” while adding that he took no pleasure in other people’s pain.
Zacharia’s difficulties began with her first press briefing on Tuesday, which lasted less than 15 minutes. She opened by reading a list of what she described as Trump’s accomplishments before taking only three questions from journalists.
The briefing attracted criticism over her delivery and handling of questions, adding to scrutiny over her suitability for the role.
She subsequently faced controversy over previous claims about her legal background. Reports established that she had not passed the California bar examination and was not licensed to practise law in the United States.
The controversy became another public relations challenge for Trump as he campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of the US congressional midterm elections scheduled for 3 November.
The president has been facing criticism over the war involving Iran, inflation and allegations of corruption, while concerns about the Republican Party’s electoral prospects have added pressure on his administration.
Zacharia’s departure marks an unusually brief tenure for a White House press secretary, leaving the administration facing questions about its communications strategy and the selection of a successor.
