Trump Fires Katie Zacharia Just Five Days Into Press Secretary Role, Tells Her: ‘You’re Better Off Being Happy’

Trump Removes Katie Zacharia as Press Secretary After Five Days Amid Briefing Controversy

US President Donald Trump has fired White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia just five days after she took up the position, The New York Times reported. Her sudden departure followed criticism of her first press briefing, questions about her legal qualifications and Trump’s public comments suggesting she reconsider the pressures of the job.

Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday before leaving for Georgia, Trump said Zacharia had been treated unfairly by the media and should not feel compelled to remain in a role that exposed her to intense scrutiny.

“I told Katie in my opinion she was treated very unfairly,” Trump said, accusing the media of having “brutalised” her.

Trump added that he had told Zacharia there was no reason for her to continue facing such pressure, particularly given her family and personal life outside the White House. Asked who might replace her, he said several people would be interested in the position.

First White House Briefing Sparks Backlash

Zacharia’s exit came after her first appearance in the White House briefing room on Tuesday, October 13, drew widespread attention. The briefing lasted about 14 minutes, during which she answered questions from journalists representing three media outlets and relied heavily on prepared remarks highlighting Trump’s leadership and administration.

The session attracted attention after Zacharia mistakenly referred to Trump as “my husband” before correcting herself. Her husband is Tyler Zacharia, an entertainment and investment executive. The slip spread rapidly across social media, prompting criticism of her performance.

She also faced questions about whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. Zacharia declined to provide an immediate response, telling the journalist, “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

Her brief appearance and responses became subjects of further debate. Trump initially defended her, but later said a change was being made, adding, “She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading, so we’re making a change.”

Legal Background Faces Fresh Scrutiny

Zacharia’s professional qualifications became another point of controversy during her brief time in the role. Trump had described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment. However, in a Fox News interview, she acknowledged failing the California bar examination in 2011 and said she had not retaken it.

Reuters reported that it could not find records confirming that Zacharia was registered as an attorney or admitted to the bar in any US state or the District of Columbia. Zacharia has maintained that she had experience working in international transaction law.

The scrutiny over her credentials added to the criticism following her first briefing and intensified attention on her appointment.

From Trump Media to the White House

Before joining the administration, Zacharia worked as a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the president’s social media platform, Truth Social. She had also appeared on conservative television networks, including Fox News and Newsmax, and briefly served as a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security.

Zacharia was appointed on October 9 to replace Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August. She started work on Monday and held her first White House briefing the following day.

Her removal after only five days brings an abrupt end to her tenure in one of the administration’s most visible communications positions.