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

US President Donald Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has been dismissed after just five days in the role, following criticism of her first press briefing and questions about her legal qualifications.

Two White House officials confirmed that Zacharia was “let go” and was transitioning out of the position on Friday, October 16. Her sudden departure leaves Trump without a key spokesperson less than three weeks before the November midterm elections, when his administration is seeking to promote its record and help Republicans retain control of Congress.

Trump had earlier said he advised Zacharia to reconsider the job after she faced intense media scrutiny.

“I think you're better off being happy, and I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a weekend trip.

He added that he had encouraged her to think about whether she wanted to continue in the demanding role.

Questions Over Legal Credentials

Zacharia’s brief tenure came under pressure after questions emerged about her claims of having practised law.

Trump had described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment. Zacharia also said she had practised international transaction law, claiming she had the appropriate credentials.

However, Reuters found no records showing that she was registered as an attorney or admitted to the bar in any US state or the District of Columbia.

During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Zacharia acknowledged that she had not passed the bar examination. In the United States, law school graduates must meet the relevant state’s requirements and be admitted to the bar to practise law.

The controversy intensified during her first White House press briefing, held on Tuesday, October 13, a day after she began the job.

Briefing Lasted Just 14 Minutes

Zacharia’s debut briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes. She delivered an opening statement highlighting Trump’s achievements and took questions from only three reporters, all representing conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly media outlets.

Her performance attracted criticism and raised questions about her readiness to handle the daily exchanges between the White House and the press.

The episode was followed by further media appearances as she attempted to defend her qualifications and respond to the criticism surrounding her appointment.

The scrutiny added to the pressure on an administration that had brought her into the role to strengthen its public messaging and promote the president’s record.

Trump in No Hurry to Name Successor

Trump said he was in no hurry to appoint a replacement for Zacharia. Two people familiar with the discussions said the president had wanted a spokesperson who could communicate his administration’s achievements more effectively.

Zacharia had been selected to replace Karoline Leavitt, who had served as White House press secretary before her departure from the position.

Her exit after less than a week is believed to mark the shortest tenure of any White House press secretary in history.

Anthony Scaramucci, who served as White House communications director for 10 days during Trump’s first administration, also reacted to the development.

“Records are made to be broken,” Scaramucci wrote on X, adding that he took no pleasure in another person’s difficulties.

Zacharia’s departure leaves the White House facing an immediate communications challenge as the administration prepares for the final stretch before the November midterm elections.