Katie Zacharia gets back to her routine in California after abrupt five-day stint as Trump’s press secretary

Katie Zacharia is back in California, and her first public appearance since leaving the White House came with a bold red, white and blue workout look. Photos published by TMZ show the former press secretary walking through her neighborhood in a blue sports bra, red leggings, white socks and sneakers, with her blonde hair pulled into a side braid. The sighting came just days after her five-day run in one of Washington’s most visible jobs came to an abrupt end.

Zacharia’s route to the podium ran through conservative media. She appeared regularly on Fox News and Newsmax, worked as a communications adviser for Trump Media and Truth Social, and briefly served as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. She had also interned at the White House during George W. Bush’s presidency. Her connection to Donald Trump was largely through that media orbit: Zacharia said she made sure to appear on television discussing issues she knew he followed, figuring that if he saw her and liked her, he might recruit her.

Trump announced her appointment on Oct. 9, calling her a loyal supporter, and she started the job on Oct. 12. The pick surprised people inside the White House; according to The Washington Post, Trump made the decision without first consulting some senior aides. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who had worked with Trump for years and had a much closer relationship with him.

One briefing, mounting questions and a fast exit

Her first and only briefing lasted about 14 minutes. Zacharia appeared nervous as she read from a prepared script, took questions from three reporters and struggled to answer one about Ukraine. She also mistakenly referred to her husband as the president.

The appearance drew criticism, but questions about her legal credentials soon became a bigger problem: although she had a law degree from Pepperdine, she acknowledged that she had never passed a bar exam. Trump had called her an attorney when he announced her appointment.

The scrutiny followed her into television interviews. Sean Hannity pressed her about her qualifications, and she faced more questions about her background on Fox & Friends. On Oct. 16, Trump told reporters she should reconsider the job, saying he wanted her to be happy and did not think she needed to face the media’s criticism.

Her departure was confirmed shortly afterward. Trump described it as her decision; reports said she was leaving the role after five days.

Her short tenure also sparked attention around her look and polished, feminine style, which some fashion coverage compared with the aesthetic associated with Melania Trump.

But there’s no reliable report confirming that the first lady disliked Zacharia or her appearance. For now, Zacharia’s California walk gives the story a quieter postscript: after a turbulent week at the White House, she has returned to her own routine. The difference now is that she’s famous and widely known, though perhaps not in the way she wanted.