Katie Zacharia leaves White House press secretary role after one-week tenure

Katie Zacharia is stepping down as White House press secretary just one week after President Donald Trump appointed her to the position. A source told Fox News Digital about her departure, while a senior White House official stated that she is transitioning out of the role.

The Briefing And Bar Exam Questions

Her short time in office included a fourteen-minute first briefing on Tuesday where she took questions from only three journalists. During that briefing, she mistakenly referred to her husband as "my president" before correcting herself. Questions arose regarding her credentials after reports from Popular Information and The Wall Street Journal revealed she did not pass the California bar exam after graduating from Pepperdine University. She later worked as an associate at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in China. On a television interview with Hannity on Thursday, Zacharia confirmed she never passed the bar exam and holds no US law licence. The Campaign for Accountability also filed a complaint with the State Bar of California over her claims of being a lawyer.

Trump's Reaction

President Trump told reporters on the South Lawn on Friday that he advised her to reconsider taking the job, stating he told her to be happy and that maybe the position was not for her. When asked if he had fired her, Trump said no and claimed she had been treated unfairly and brutalized by the media. White House communications director Steven Cheung previously stated that Zacharia is qualified for the role.

Context

The White House press secretary serves as the primary spokesperson for the United States president, managing daily communication with journalists and handling high-pressure briefings. Rapid departures in senior administration roles are rare but have historical precedents in past US presidencies.