Trump Dismisses Press Secretary Katie Zacharia After Five Days in the Role

President Donald Trump has dismissed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary, advisers to the president told CNN on Friday, ending her tenure at the podium less than a week after her appointment. The Katie Zacharia press secretary stint, which began with her appointment on October 9 and her first briefing on October 13, came to an end after Trump told reporters he had asked her to reconsider the role.

Trump Asks Zacharia to Reconsider the Role

Speaking to reporters on Friday morning before departing for a political rally in Georgia, Trump said he had spoken with Zacharia about her position. “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump said he told her. “Katie, do you need this? I don’t think you need this.”

Trump said the media had treated Zacharia poorly and praised her as a loyal supporter, but made clear he did not believe she was suited to serve as the administration’s top spokesperson. “Maybe it’s not for her,” he said.

A source close to the president told CNN that Trump still respects and likes Zacharia personally, and that the account Trump gave of their conversation was accurate. The source added that Zacharia and her family were expected to have dinner with Vice President JD Vance and his family on Friday night — a signal, they said, that the administration still held her in high regard.

The Katie Zacharia Press Secretary Tenure: A Timeline

Zacharia was named press secretary on October 9, succeeding Karoline Leavitt. A former conservative commentator who had worked at the Department of Homeland Security, she had drawn Trump’s attention through her television appearances.

Her first press briefing, on October 13, drew scrutiny after she appeared nervous and took questions from only three reporters. Questions also arose about her background after Trump had described her as an “attorney” when announcing her hiring; Zacharia later explained in interviews on Fox News that she had never passed the bar exam.

Two sources familiar with the discussions told CNN that Trump had not initially judged Zacharia’s first briefing as harshly as some of his advisers had. However, her subsequent television interviews — including a Thursday night appearance on Fox News — and conversations with his allies convinced him it was untenable for her to remain in the role, they said. One person with direct knowledge of his comments said Trump remarked this week that she “wasn’t ready for prime time.”

Her tenure — five days from her first briefing, seven from her appointment — was shorter than that of Anthony Scaramucci, whose 11-day stint as White House communications director in 2017 is the standard measure for brief White House tenures.

Conclusion

The White House has not yet named a successor, and the post of press secretary — the administration’s most visible daily link to the press — stands vacant. A Trump adviser said Zacharia would leave the White House in the coming days, closing one of the shortest tenures in the role’s history.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long was Katie Zacharia the White House press secretary?

Five days from her first briefing on October 13, or seven days from her appointment on October 9. The New York Times first reported her dismissal on Friday, October 16.

Why was she dismissed?

Trump told reporters he had asked Zacharia to reconsider the role, saying “Maybe it’s not for her.” Advisers pointed to a difficult first briefing on October 13 and scrutiny over her background and subsequent television interviews.

What happened at her first briefing?

At the White House lectern on October 13, Zacharia appeared nervous and took questions from only three reporters, according to CNN. Questions also arose about her having been described as an “attorney” despite never having passed the bar exam.

Who was the press secretary before her?

Karoline Leavitt, whom Trump said left the role to focus on her family.

What happens next?

The White House has not named a successor. A Trump adviser said Zacharia would leave the White House in the coming days, while a source said she and her family were expected to dine with Vice President JD Vance’s family on Friday.