Trump removes press secretary after five days in role
US President Donald Trump has removed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia after just five days in the role, following a widely criticized debut briefing, questions over her legal credentials and growing concerns among senior advisers about her performance, according to CNN and other media reports.
The dismissal came after Trump urged Zacharia to reconsider the position, telling reporters Friday that he had questioned whether the demanding role was right for her.
“Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump said he had told her.
Fox News, citing a White House official, reported that Zacharia was transitioning to a new role. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said she would continue supporting the president, describing her as a valuable member of the team.
Unprepared briefing raises concerns
Zacharia’s first White House press briefing on Tuesday drew criticism over her delivery and handling of questions. According to CNN, several Trump advisers questioned whether she had sufficient experience to manage one of the administration’s most prominent communications positions.
During the briefing, she struggled with some questions, including one about whether the United States had suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
CNN reported that Trump initially told Zacharia during a flight to Alaska that she had performed well. However, he later became concerned about the negative coverage of her debut and her handling of subsequent assignments.
The report also described tensions over plans to arrange a television interview for Trump after a rally in Alaska, which the president reportedly did not want to undertake.
Bar exam admission fuels controversy
The controversy intensified over Zacharia’s claims about her legal background. Trump introduced her as an attorney when announcing her appointment, but questions soon emerged over whether she had passed the bar exam and held a license to practise law.
Zacharia, a graduate of Pepperdine University’s law school in California, subsequently acknowledged that she had failed the bar exam. She argued that she had been told she could describe herself as a lawyer, although she had not qualified as an attorney.
Her remarks during interviews, including an appearance on Fox News, further intensified scrutiny of her credentials and suitability for the position.
Sudden appointment leaves White House searching again
According to CNN, Zacharia was not among the leading candidates for the position until shortly before Trump selected her. The president reportedly became increasingly eager to appoint a press secretary as Republicans faced mounting political challenges ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump offered Zacharia the job following a telephone conversation, and she travelled to Washington before the appointment was announced. She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who had left the position at the end of the summer.
White House officials have rejected some of the negative characterizations surrounding Zacharia’s departure. Cheung called speculation about the episode unfounded and said she would transition to another role.
Zacharia said in a post on X that it had been an honour to work for Trump and expressed continued support for the president.
Her departure leaves the White House without a press secretary during the final stretch before the midterm elections. Trump said many people were interested in the position but did not identify a successor.
Source:CNN
