WASHINGTON — The White House is descending into turmoil as a defeat in the House of Representatives looks all but certain in the U.S. midterm elections set for Nov. 3. New press secretary Katie Zachariah was abruptly dismissed four days after starting the job, and speculation keeps surfacing that Susie Wiles, the most powerful figure in the White House, will be replaced as chief of staff.
Zachariah, who began work on Oct. 12, was abruptly dismissed four days later on Oct. 16, according to major foreign news outlets on Oct. 17. The former press secretary, who had introduced herself as a lawyer on television and elsewhere, graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2011 but failed the California bar exam, drawing accusations that she had misrepresented her credentials. At her first White House briefing on Oct. 13, she appeared ill-prepared, taking questions from only three conservative-leaning outlets before leaving after little more than 10 minutes.
Wiles, Unaware of Zachariah's Hiring, Arranged the Fox News Interviews
Some observers said Wiles, who had not been told in advance about Zachariah's appointment, had "engineered" her removal. Zachariah appeared on Fox News twice in quick succession, on the night of Oct. 15 and the morning of Oct. 16, in an attempt to quell the controversy surrounding her. But she only fueled it, saying she had consulted legal experts who told her she could call herself a lawyer. That proved decisive, and she was dismissed on the afternoon of Oct. 16. Wiles and others were the ones who arranged the interviews, according to the reports.
Meanwhile, assessments that Wiles' own standing is weakening are spreading. The U.S. online outlet Politico recently reported that President Donald Trump has been asking aides about Wiles' reputation and looking for a successor.
On a related front, James Blair, the former deputy White House chief of staff and a Trump confidant close to Wiles, and Chris LaCivita drew criticism after recently visiting Republika Srpska, the Serb autonomous entity in Bosnia in the Balkans, and receiving large sums in return for providing advice to a pro-Russian far-right party. The release of photographs showing Wiles' daughter, who works at a lobbying firm, visiting Republika Srpska also helped narrow Wiles' room to maneuver.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Oct. 7 that Blair and others were outside consultants and said he would immediately sever ties if there were any conflict of interest. That was an unusual response given his previous leniency toward those in his inner circle.
'Why Go Abroad at Such a Critical Time?' Trump Voices Frustration With Wiles' Allies
Reuters, citing three sources, reported that Trump had questioned why Blair was involved in overseas business at a time when he should be overseeing the final stage of the Republican midterm campaign. Blair runs MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC, a political fundraising group. One source said Trump was questioning why Republican support had not risen despite the enormous sums spent on the campaign, adding that it was unclear whether he would approve additional spending before the election. MAGA Inc. is known to have raised more than $400 million and has spent about $200 million so far. Reuters, citing sources, reported that what is now unfolding at the White House amounts to a self-destructive firefight.
Even Republicans Say the House Is Lost and the Senate Is a Coin Flip
The mood comes amid growing expectations that Republicans will struggle heading into the midterms. The party currently holds majorities in both chambers, but even within the Republican Party there are voices saying holding the House is impossible and that the focus should shift to defending the Senate.
The Washington Post reported that internal Republican polling showed support for the party's candidates plunging after a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, in September. Voters reportedly responded that Republicans were not listening to their economic concerns. Republican strategists see the Senate as a 50-50 proposition and worry that Texas and Kansas, long-time strongholds, will become battlegrounds.
Reuters: White House Locked in a 'Self-Destructive Firefight'
Trump did tell reporters that Wiles is terrific and that she would hold the post for a long time, but expectations are growing that she will leave the job after the midterms, whether by choice or not. Several figures are already said to be maneuvering for the position. The Washington Post reported that White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin are eyeing the job. Politico reported that Trump is also considering New York Yankees President Randy Levine, presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
