Her departure follows a brief tenure, scrutiny of her credentials and President Trump’s suggestion that she reconsider the position.
Katie Zacharia is leaving her position as White House press secretary after less than a week on the job, according to October 16 reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters.
President Trump had encouraged her to reconsider the demanding role amid intense media scrutiny. Reuters reported that two White House officials confirmed she was departing.
Zacharia began work Monday, October 12, and held her first briefing Tuesday. Questions about her legal credentials followed; she acknowledged that she had not passed the bar exam.
The White House’s October 13 announcement offered a sharply different assessment of her debut, praising her presentation and highlighting her commitment to communicating the administration’s policies.
During that briefing, Zacharia thanked President Trump for selecting her and said she intended to maintain and expand opportunities for newer media outlets. She also discussed balancing the job with raising four children.
The departure creates another transition in the administration’s public communications operation ahead of the November midterm elections. President Trump said Friday that he was in no rush to name a replacement, Reuters reported.
For background on her appointment, read THRIVE!’s introduction to Katie Zacharia.
Featured photo: Katie Zacharia at her October 13, 2026 briefing. Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks.
