USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Donald Trump Tells Katie Zacharia To Reconsider Role After Five Days
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Katie Zacharia resigns as White House press secretary after five days on the job. Debut briefing lasted about 14 minutes and drew widespread criticism over qualifications.
15 outlets told this the same way.
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Zacharia dismissed after week
Donald Trump suggested that White House press secretary Katie Zacharia “reconsider” her role after less than a week on the job, as harsh scrutiny followed her debut and questions about her qualifications as a lawyer. Trump told reporters outside the White House, “I told her: ‘Honestly, if I were you, I would rethink it,’” and he added that he was not sure she could be happy in the position.
Zacharia confirmed her departure in a post on X, writing, “It was an honor to work for him.” A U.S. official told Agence France-Presse that Zacharia had left her post, saying, “I can confirm that,” after Fox News reported she was preparing to depart less than a week after taking on the role.
Bar exam and first briefing
Zacharia’s short tenure followed criticism of her first and only press conference, which lasted barely 14 minutes and limited questions to three reporters from conservative or Trump-friendly outlets. Zacharia admitted she did not pass the bar exam, and she told Fox News that she had “not applied again,” while the controversy centered on whether she had presented herself as a lawyer.
Trump also faced questions about her legal background, and he told reporters, “I told her frankly, if I were you, I would rethink it,” as he questioned whether the job was suitable for her. The White House press secretary’s remarks also drew attention beyond the briefing, as she said China “doesn’t even have proper toilets,” prompting a response from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
What happens next
Trump’s dismissal left the White House again without a press secretary, and the sources said it was not clear who would fill the role or when a successor would be named. Bloomberg reported that Katie Zacharia would stop serving as press secretary after less than a week, and it said a White House official stated she was “in the process of leaving the post.”
Trump told reporters that he was “thinking about taking some action,” but he said, “I’m going to let her make that decision,” as he framed the episode as unfair treatment by the media. The episode unfolded with the midterm elections scheduled for November, and Euronews said Trump was intensifying campaign tours across the United States to back Republican candidates ahead of those elections.