Katie Zacharia is leaving the post of White House press secretary just five days after her appointment. This was reported by several American publications at once, citing sources in the administration.
Zacharia took up her duties on Monday, 12 October 2026, replacing Caroline Levitt in that post. Her first and only briefing took place on Tuesday, 13 October. It lasted about 14 minutes, followed a pre-prepared script, and ended after three questions.
On Friday, 16 October, President Donald Trump publicly advised her to "reconsider" her decision about the job. "Honestly, if I were in your place, I would change my mind. Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this," Trump told journalists.
Later the White House confirmed that Zacharia is "moving" to another position, which will be announced later. The reasons for the rapid departure are linked to criticism of her debut briefing and questions about her professional experience.
Zacharia, a graduate of Pepperdine law school, long presented herself as a lawyer. However, it turned out that she had not passed the bar exam. Trump, in his announcement of her appointment, called her a "lawyer."
The scandal surrounding her qualifications and the unsuccessful start in the new position led to the fact that within just a few days it became clear: this post is not for her. As often happens in Washington, high-profile appointments sometimes end as quickly as they begin.
Now the administration will have to look for a new press secretary at the height of the election campaign ahead of the midterm elections.
