Katie Zacharia has departed her role as White House press secretary after only five days, the White House confirmed on Friday. Her brief tenure followed a challenging debut press briefing and public scrutiny over her legal credentials.
Zacharia reportedly secured the position by strategically appearing on television during times the US president was likely watching. However, her subsequent interviews on Thursday with Trump-friendly outlets, intended for redemption, instead sealed her fate.
During an appearance on Fox News, host Sean Hannity questioned Zacharia about her admission of having "stepped up to the plate with very little prep time" for her first briefing. She also faced queries regarding her legal qualifications and incorrectly asserted that the Daily Mail is "not known to be a conservative outlet."
Her exit was met with widespread ridicule, though some expressed compassion for what was described as a public humiliation. Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary, commented that it takes years to prepare for such a role, not days.