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Katie Zacharia was fired as White House press secretary on Friday (October 16), just five days after starting the job, according to multiple reports. Her short tenure under President Donald Trump began Monday and ended after a series of public missteps and questions about her legal credentials.
Zacharia hosted her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, which was widely criticized. During her brief time in the role, she faced mounting scrutiny after admitting she had not passed the bar exam, despite having been presented by President Trump as “an attorney.” Zacharia initially said she passed the bar exam in China, but later acknowledged failing the California bar and never retaking it.
President Trump commented to reporters before departing for Georgia that he had suggested Zacharia reconsider her role, saying, "Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider. Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this," as cited by Click2Houston and The Advocate.
Zacharia had previously worked as a conservative political commentator and communications professional before being named press secretary on October 9.
The White House has not yet announced who will fill the press secretary position moving forward.