US President Donald Trump has urged new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to reconsider her position less than a week after she took up the role, amid criticism of her first press briefing and allegations that she misrepresented her professional qualifications.
“I told her: honestly, if I were in her position, I would reconsider,” Trump told reporters, arguing that the media had treated Zacharia “very badly”. He said he had just spoken to her and asked whether the job was right for her, adding that she did not need the pressure.
Fox News subsequently reported, citing a White House official, that Zacharia was “in the process of exiting” her role as press secretary.
If the White House officially confirms her departure, Zacharia will become the shortest-serving press secretary to work for Trump. She would also surpass Anthony Scaramucci, who served as White House communications director for just 11 days during Trump’s first administration in 2017.
Media appearances deepen questions over her future
Zacharia’s prospects appeared increasingly uncertain on Friday morning after a series of interviews with conservative journalists and media outlets failed to repair the damage from her first briefing on Tuesday.
Her initial appearance attracted negative reactions after she struggled to speak, took just three questions from selected reporters and left after 15 minutes.
During a morning appearance on Fox News, Zacharia faced a direct question about whether she still enjoyed Trump’s confidence.
“I am here and I was able to travel with him for the midterm convention — or, sorry, for campaign rallies. I hope I will earn the trust of those around me,” she replied, offering no clear confirmation of the president’s support.
Zacharia accompanied Trump on campaign stops on Tuesday and Wednesday but kept her distance from reporters travelling aboard the presidential aircraft. She appeared in the press cabin only once, for a few minutes, and declined to say when the White House would hold its next press briefing.
On Thursday evening, Zacharia faced further scrutiny during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Referring to her first briefing, Hannity asked whether her team should have prepared her better before questioning her professional qualifications.
“Did you take the bar exam but fail?” Hannity asked.
“Yes, Sean,” replied the 41-year-old, who had presented herself as a lawyer.
She explained that she had known she would move to China and believed the examination results would have no consequences.
Zacharia lived in Beijing for two years, where she claims to have worked as a legal consultant at a major law firm. She said she did not retake the bar examination after returning to the United States because she had “four children in six years”.
Earlier, in an appearance on Real America’s Voice, a platform closely aligned with the MAGA movement, Zacharia accused others of spreading “misinformation” about her.
Ethics group calls for investigation
The controversy has also prompted a formal request for scrutiny of Zacharia’s qualifications.
On Wednesday, the political ethics organisation Campaign for Accountability asked the California State Bar to investigate, arguing that falsely claiming to be a lawyer constitutes a criminal offence in the state.
Zacharia, who remains relatively unknown to the wider public, succeeded Karoline Leavitt, a staunch Trump supporter who left the position in August to care for her young children.
Leavitt established herself as a forceful defender of the president, publicly backing his decisions and statements without hesitation.
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