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Politics · October 16, 2026

Trump rallies in Georgia as new White House press secretary is fired after five days on the job - live

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White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is stepping down from her role after five days on the job, marking the shortest tenure for a top presidential spokesperson to date. The move followed a week of controversy involving questions about her legal credentials and a press briefing performance that was widely criticized by media and administration allies alike. President Trump indicated he encouraged Zacharia to reconsider the position due to the personal toll and media scrutiny, while White House officials confirmed she will transition to a different role within the administration.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • Katie Zacharia is leaving the role of White House Press Secretary after five days.
  • Her tenure is shorter than Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day record.
  • Zacharia admitted she never passed the bar exam despite previously describing herself as a lawyer.
  • She held only one formal press briefing, taking questions from three outlets.
  • President Trump spoke with her about reconsidering the role before her departure was announced.
  • Zacharia and her family were scheduled for dinner with Vice President JD Vance on Friday night.
  • She is expected to take a different role within the Trump administration.

Reported by only some outlets

  • CBS News reported that Zacharia spent the week isolated and was not involved in decision-making.
  • The Washington Examiner reported that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Communications Director Steven Cheung were initially opposed to her hiring.
  • The Washington Examiner detailed that her interview with Sean Hannity, where she blamed lack of prep time, was a turning point for the White House staff.
  • CBS News noted she spoke to reporters for 5 minutes during her briefing, while the Washington Examiner noted it was slightly over 6 minutes.

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