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Trump Fires Press Secretary Zacharia After Brief Tenure
Confirmed
In Short: Zacharia's tenure was marked by a contentious first press briefing on Tuesday, where she took questions from only three reporters, all from conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets, and left after just 14 minutes.
President Trump fired Katie Zacharia, his press secretary, on Friday after she served for less than a week.
Zacharia's tenure was marked by a contentious first press briefing on Tuesday, where she took questions from only three reporters, all from conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets, and left after just 14 minutes.
During her brief time in the role, questions arose about Zacharia's legal background, with reports suggesting she had failed her bar exam despite being introduced by Trump as an attorney.
Zacharia herself told Fox News that she was not asked about her bar exam results before becoming press secretary, and Trump noted that she was hired as a spokesperson, not an attorney.
In a statement to reporters, Trump said, 'I said, “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider.” I said, “You think about it, but I would reconsider.”' He added that he wanted her to have a good life and not be subjected to criticism from the media.
Zacharia had expressed hope to build trust and confidence in her role, but her brief tenure was marked by controversy.
Zacharia previously served as spokesperson and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security and is a graduate of Pepperdine University and the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
While Zacharia's future with Trump remains uncertain, Trump suggested she might continue to work for him in some capacity, stating, 'Maybe a more pleasant form.'
What this adds
Zacharia's firing highlights the scrutiny and pressure faced by White House press secretaries, especially in the Trump era.
The decision to fire Zacharia after such a short tenure underscores the high stakes and public scrutiny of the role.
Background
The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, amid scrutiny over her legal credentials, according to reports from the BBC (United Kingdom) and Tribune (Pakistan).
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she is expecting her second child.
The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the executive branch of the United States federal government, especially with regard to the president, senior aides and executives, as well as government policies.
What's confirmed
- Katie Zacharia is leaving her role as White House press secretary after only seven days following a rocky first week on the job, a source familiar confirmed to Fox News Digital.
- President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are weighing whether to remove U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports of alleged financial impropriety and workplace misconduct.
What's still developing
- Zacharia was a surprise choice when Trump announced her appointment on Oct.
- 9, as the successor to Karoline Leavitt, the youngest-ever White House press secretary who had been part of Trump’s inner circle for years.
- On Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made clear the public will be able to see the December 3, 2026, execution of terrorist Nidal Hasan.
- Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday announced he is sending members home from Washington early for their seven-week campaigning recess ahead of the midterm elections, a move that will stave off a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that returning a seized explosives shipment to Hezbollah should be ruled out, a State Department official said.
- Iran's currency has hit a record low — 2.02 million to the US dollar — as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepared to announce new sanctions that Washington said would add further pressure on an economy already battered by previous sanctions and a US naval blockade.
- "Bhupesh Baghel will oversee Assam, Randeep Singh Surjewala Gujarat and Karnataka, and Sachin Pilot Punjab. Sukhdeo Bhagat, Sirivella Prasad and P.V. Mohan will handle Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh," a circular issued by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C.
- Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol give their takes on the news White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia made when she announced on her first day that the White House asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
- A U.S. official told MS NOW that the secretary of state is extremely unhappy with the U.S. ambassador to Greece following allegations of misconduct.
- The Congress on Saturday reassigned several AICC general secretaries and in-charges of states with immediate effect, according to a press release issued by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal.