WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Infinite Headlines) — Katie Zacharia’s tenure as White House press secretary ended after five days, NBC News reported on Oct. 16, 2026, citing a senior administration official, another administration official and a person familiar with the decision.
Her brief time in the job brought scrutiny of her first briefing and her legal credentials. President Donald Trump publicly described her future as a choice he would leave to her, while news organizations reported that she was leaving the post.
How did she get the job?
Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left the press secretary’s post at the end of August, according to NBC News. The White House identified Zacharia as its 37th press secretary.
Before her appointment, Zacharia was a conservative commentator and an adviser to Trump Media & Technology Group, CNBC reported. USA Today also reported that she had worked at the Department of Homeland Security.
Zacharia described herself as a “hardline Trump supporter,” according to CNBC. She called accepting the position a “distinguished privilege,” USA Today reported.
Accounts differ on the appointment announcement’s date. USA Today and The Associated Press placed it on Oct. 9; CNBC reported that Trump named her on Oct. 11. In his Truth Social announcement, Trump set her start for Oct. 12 and scheduled an introductory news conference for Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the White House press briefing room.
What did she say her role would be?
The press secretary speaks to reporters about the president’s agenda and the administration’s actions. Zacharia described her approach as an extension of her work supporting Trump outside government.
“I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” she said, according to Global News.
She also said Trump “is his own best spokesperson and will absolutely be leading the way.”
At her inaugural briefing, she thanked Trump for his trust and said she was honored to work for him and the American people. She also promoted his policy record, claiming he was the first president in modern history to lower prescription drug prices and had delivered the biggest drop in 63 years.
What happened at the first briefing?
The White House said Zacharia delivered her inaugural briefing on Oct. 13. It took place at the White House in Washington, AP reported.
AP described a 14-minute appearance. Yahoo News put it at 15 minutes, while NBC News described it as less than 15 minutes. Politico reported that she took three questions; AP reported that she called on three questioners and answered an additional question while leaving.
During the briefing, Zacharia announced that Trump had asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, to resign. Allegations of improper conduct appeared in coverage of that announcement, attributed to reports rather than a named investigative record.
NBC News reported that Zacharia could not answer a question about whether the United States had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. AP also reported that she mixed up the words “husband” and “president.”
The White House praised the debut as a strong introduction. A sharply different assessment came from an unnamed White House official quoted by MS NOW, who said she “needs to get much better fast, otherwise she’ll break Scaramucci’s record.” The comparison referred to Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House communications director whose short tenure was invoked in coverage.
Why were her legal credentials questioned?
NBC News and Politico reported that Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine Law. The questions that followed concerned her bar-exam history and whether she was licensed to practice law.
A bar examination is part of the process for becoming licensed to practice law. Graduating from law school and holding a license are separate credentials.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, an unnamed senior administration official confirmed to NBC News that Zacharia had not passed the California bar exam. Zacharia also acknowledged that she did not pass, linking the circumstances at the time to her approaching marriage and move to China, Yahoo News reported.
She described herself during that period as “incredibly distracted and overwhelmed and excited.”
In a separate account to NewsNation, Zacharia said she had “practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.” The BBC reported that the White House defended her legal credentials.
Judd Legum of Popular Information found that Fox News had identified Zacharia as a lawyer at least 18 times, according to People, which credited his review. That review found no evidence she had passed any state’s bar exam. NBC News separately reported that it found no evidence she was licensed to practice law in any state.
What did Trump say about her departure?
On Friday, Oct. 16, Trump told reporters he had suggested that Zacharia reconsider continuing in the job. He described the media’s treatment of her as “very rough” and said she had been treated “nastily.”
“I said, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,’” Trump said, according to USA Today.
Asked whether he would keep her, Trump said: “I’m going to let her make that decision.”
Politico reported that Zacharia was no longer press secretary, citing two White House officials and another person familiar with the matter. The New York Times described her departure as a dismissal, citing three people knowledgeable about the situation.
