Trump’s newest White House press secretary quits after just five days
Donald Trump’s latest White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was dismissed after only five days on the job, officials said on Friday. The decision followed a widely criticized first—and only—press briefing and growing doubts about her qualifications.
Trump told reporters that he felt the media had been “harsh” toward Zacharia, but that he had urged her to “reconsider” the role. Shortly after, Al Jazeera and other outlets reported that Zacharia would be “transitioning out” of the position, making her the shortest‑serving press secretary in U.S. history. Her tenure was half as long as that of Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired after ten days as communications director in 2017. The phrase “one Scaramucci” has long been used by journalists as a tongue‑in‑cheek unit of time; “one Zacharia” now joins that informal lexicon.
Scaramucci reflected on his own brief stint on X, writing: “Records are made to be broken. But I take no pleasure in other people’s pain.”
Why Zacharia was removed
The White House has not offered an official explanation, but concerns about her competence and background grew after her sole briefing on Tuesday. During the 14‑minute session she appeared uneasy, stumbled over her notes, confused the words “husband” and “president,” and took only three questions from reporters.
Further scrutiny arose when it was revealed that Zacharia holds a law degree but never passed the bar exam required to practice law in the United States. She later asserted that she had worked as a lawyer in China, a claim that prompted Fox News host Sean Hannity to ask, “Why didn’t you just say: ‘I never practised law’?”
After the announcement of her departure, Zacharia posted on X that it had been “an honour” to work for Trump, describing him as “kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking.”
Reception of her briefing
Zacharia succeeded former press secretary Karoline Leavitt and was widely panned for being unpolished and unprepared, even by many Trump supporters. During Hannity’s interview, he noted that she had been “widely panned” for her performance. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly said Zacharia needed “to present as a serious person.” Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who served under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, likened the troubled briefing to a comedy sketch, adding, “Maybe this whole White House press secretary thing isn’t really for Katie. It’s not for everybody.”
Scaramucci offered advice to the departing official, writing on X: “Speaking as the world’s leading expert on short White House tenures: turn off the news and go enjoy your family. In time you’ll realize that the Universe did you a major favor.”
Who will take over
The White House has not named a permanent replacement, and Trump told Fox News that he is “not in a hurry” to fill the vacancy. The role remains empty as the United States navigates ongoing tensions with Iran and approaches the midterm elections next month.
Trump’s turnover of press secretaries
Zacharia is the sixth person to hold the press‑secretary post under Trump. He cycled through four officials in his first term and two so far in his second. Her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, served from the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025 until she resigned in August to spend more time with her children.
During the first term, Trump’s press secretaries were Kayleigh McEnany, Stephanie Grisham, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sean Spicer. McEnany now hosts several Fox News shows, while Spicer contributes to NewsNation and runs a podcast. Huckabee Sanders is the governor of Arkansas and is seeking re‑election on November 3. Grisham left the press‑secretary post in 2020, became chief of staff to First Lady Melania Trump, resigned after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and has since become a vocal critic of Trump.
Other officials dismissed in the second term
Zacharia joins a list of Trump appointees who have been removed during his current term. Earlier this week, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., was asked to step down after reports that she offered a political donor access to senior officials in exchange for money. Earlier in the year, Trump also fired Attorney General Pam Bondi amid controversy over her handling of certain files.