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Politics · October 16, 2026

New White House press secretary faces more scrutiny – this time from Trump-friendly Fox News

28 sources →

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is stepping down from her role after only five days on the job, following a debut press briefing and public scrutiny regarding her professional credentials. President Donald Trump publicly suggested Zacharia reconsider the position on Friday, citing harsh media treatment. The departure was precipitated by reports that Zacharia had referred to herself as a lawyer despite never passing the bar exam, a distinction she defended by differentiating the term from 'attorney.' While she is exiting the press secretary role, reports indicate she is expected to transition to a different position within the administration.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • Katie Zacharia is exiting the role of White House Press Secretary after five days.
  • Zacharia's first and only press briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes and was widely criticized.
  • Zacharia attended Pepperdine University's law school but did not pass the bar exam.
  • President Trump suggested to reporters that Zacharia should reconsider the job because of how she was being treated.
  • Conservative media outlets, including Fox News and Sean Hannity, questioned Zacharia about her performance and credentials.

Reported by only some outlets

  • Two U.S. officials told CBS News that Zacharia was being removed from the role before the official confirmation.
  • A White House aide claimed Zacharia was isolated during her week and not involved in decision-making.
  • Zacharia and her family were reportedly invited to dinner with Vice President JD Vance on Friday night.
  • President Trump explicitly denied rumors that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was being replaced.
  • Zacharia took questions from only three outlets during her briefing: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.

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