US President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has reportedly left the position after just five days, following criticism of her first press briefing and questions surrounding her professional qualifications.
Trump confirmed on Friday, October 16, 2026, that he had discussed her future with her, suggesting that the intense scrutiny surrounding her appointment may have influenced her decision to leave the high-profile role.
Speaking to reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Georgia, Trump criticised the media’s treatment of Zacharia and indicated that she was free to reconsider remaining in the position.
“I just spoke to her about it. I said, ‘Katie, is this for you?’” he said.
Trump added that he had told her she did not have to continue in the role if she no longer wanted it.
Reports of Zacharia’s departure emerged less than a week after she was appointed to replace Karoline Leavitt, who reportedly left the position in August. The White House described the development as a transition out of the role, although it had not publicly provided a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding her exit.
Zacharia officially began work on Monday, October 12, and held her first press briefing the following day. The session lasted less than 15 minutes, with the new spokesperson taking questions from only three journalists.
The briefing attracted criticism, with observers questioning its brevity and her reliance on prepared notes. However, concerns about her appointment extended beyond her performance before reporters.
Questions were also raised about her legal credentials after she was presented as an attorney despite not having passed a bar examination in the United States.
During her first briefing, a reporter asked where she had passed the bar examination. Her response, “when I moved to China,” prompted further questions about her professional background.
In subsequent remarks, Zacharia acknowledged that she had never passed a bar examination but maintained that she had practised international transactional law with the appropriate credentials.
A Reuters investigation reportedly found no records showing that she was registered as an attorney or admitted to the bar in any US state or the District of Columbia.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 and reportedly worked at the Beijing-based Zhong Lun law firm between 2011 and 2013. She later held communications-related positions, including a role with Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Trump’s Truth Social platform.
Her departure comes as the Trump administration faces the politically sensitive November midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking to retain control of Congress.
The reported exit marks an unusually brief tenure for a White House press secretary and raises fresh questions about the administration’s vetting and selection of its public-facing spokesperson.
