Katie Zacharia, who was appointed as the new White House Press Secretary last Friday, is reportedly exiting the role after only five days in the position. Multiple U.S. news outlets, including the New York Times, reported the development on Friday.
Earlier that day, former President Donald Trump hinted that Zacharia might be leaving her post, suggesting to reporters that she reconsider her role for the sake of her own happiness.
Background on Zacharia’s Appointment and Controversy
Zacharia had recently replaced Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary. Prior to taking the role, she was a commentator for conservative media outlets such as Fox News and Newsmax, and also advised Trump Media and Technology, the company behind Trump’s Truth Social platform.
Her appointment drew scrutiny shortly after it was announced due to questions about her legal qualifications. While Zacharia has claimed to be a lawyer, neither she nor the White House has presented verified records showing she passed a bar exam in any U.S. state or in China, where she previously worked at a large law firm.
Legal Career and Credentials Under Question
According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia worked as an associate at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011 to 2013 and served as general counsel for Fix California, an advocacy group founded by Trump ally Ric Grenell, from 2024 to 2025. She earned a law degree from Pepperdine University in 2011.
However, merely acquiring a law degree does not confer the legal license to practice law in the United States, which requires passing a state bar exam. Her actual status as a licensed attorney remains unconfirmed.
Statements from Former President Trump
On Friday, Trump was quoted telling reporters that he advised Zacharia to consider leaving the press secretary position for the sake of her happiness, acknowledging the difficulties of the role. He said, “I told her: ‘I think you’re better off being happy, and I’m not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff.’ There’s nothing easy about this stuff.” He added, “If I were you, I’d reconsider… think about it. But I would reconsider.”
