Leavitt on Zacharia’s rapid exit: ‘The job obviously was not for her’

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged Thursday that her successor Katie Zacharia, who stepped down after less than a week as press secretary, was not a good fit for the job. 

“Look, White House press secretary is a tough job. I know that because I did it,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News.

“Many people say it’s one of the hardest jobs in politics. It takes a lot of preparation. Sometimes you don’t know how someone will perform until they go out there,” she continued. “As the president said, we wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her.” 

Leavitt said Trump is continuing his search for potential candidates, and she has offered to assist the president in finding a replacement. 

“I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well. Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump. He knows that he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal and can go out there and put up a fight,” she said.

Leavitt served as press secretary from the beginning of the second Trump administration in January 2025 until this August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. 

Prior to serving as White House press secretary, Leavitt worked as press secretary on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Despite her exit from the White House, Leavitt is still seen as a close confidant of Trump’s. 

Leavitt’s comments came after Zacharia left the role after only five days on the job earlier this month. 

Zacharia’s departure followed intense scrutiny over a shaky first press conference, which lasted 14 minutes, as well as skepticism over her legal background.