U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday fired his brand new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, just five days into the job. The story broke right after Trump told reporters that he had asked Zacharia to reconsider whether she wanted to remain in the job after her bumpy first briefing on Monday.
Trump told reporters gathered at the White House that he only wants Zacharia to be happy and that the media was treating her unpleasantly. “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider, Katie, do you need this? I don’t think you need this,” the president told reporters about his conversation with Zacharia.
This time, Trump was not able to blame the “fake news” media, as he normally does. Instead, the final blow was delivered by Fox News, a normally Trump- friendly network. First came a tough interview by Fox News star Sean Hannity, a personal friend of the president’s, who roasted Zacharia for presenting herself as a lawyer for years even though she never passed the bar exam. Then came bad coverage on Fox&Friends. The combination spelled the end for Zacharia, who had previously worked as a conservative commentator and Homeland Security spokesperson before being tapped for White House press secretary.
The episode has reinforced the impression of improvisation and chaos at the White House when it comes to hiring personnel. It has also confirmed an unwritten rule that when there is a crisis and a scapegoat is required, it is usually a woman. Just ask former attorney general Pam Bondi, former national intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, or former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
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