Trump’s White House Press Secretary Quits After Just Five Days as Credentials Storm Erupts

WASHINGTON, DC — US President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has left her position after just five days on the job, following criticism of her first press briefing and questions about her professional credentials.

Zacharia’s departure was reported on Friday, October 16, 2026, after Trump disclosed that he had advised her to reconsider remaining in the high-profile position. A White House official subsequently confirmed that she was leaving the role.

The departure came just days after Trump announced her appointment to succeed Karoline Leavitt on Friday, October 9. Zacharia began work on Monday, October 12, and held her first White House press briefing the following day, Tuesday, October 13.

The brief tenure quickly became controversial after Zacharia’s first interaction with journalists attracted criticism. The briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she took questions from only three reporters, prompting scrutiny of her performance as the administration’s principal spokesperson.

The controversy deepened on Thursday, October 15, when questions emerged about her professional credentials. During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Zacharia acknowledged that she had not passed the bar examination, despite holding a law degree from Pepperdine University.

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In the United States, obtaining a law degree does not automatically qualify a graduate to practise as a licensed attorney. Admission to practise generally requires passing the relevant bar examination and satisfying other requirements set by the jurisdiction.

The revelation intensified scrutiny of how Zacharia’s legal background had been presented before her appointment, further complicating her early days in the White House role.

Zacharia defended her handling of the first briefing, explaining that she had limited time to prepare. She also indicated that the session was intentionally brief because Trump was expected to speak to reporters later that morning.

Trump, meanwhile, said he had encouraged her to consider whether the position was right for her, arguing that the media scrutiny surrounding the job could make it difficult to remain in the role.

The White House press secretary is responsible for communicating the president’s positions, explaining administration policies and responding to questions from journalists. The position frequently involves contentious exchanges with the media and intense public scrutiny.

Before joining the White House, Zacharia worked in communications for Trump Media, the company behind the president’s Truth Social platform. She had also held a position at the Department of Homeland Security and worked as a conservative political commentator.

Her exit leaves the Trump administration needing to determine who will handle daily press briefings and serve as its principal spokesperson. As of Friday, October 16, the White House had not publicly announced a successor.

Zacharia’s departure followed a compressed timeline: Trump announced her appointment on October 9, she began work on October 12, delivered her first briefing on October 13 and left the position on October 16. The five-day description refers to her working tenure rather than five full days from the date her appointment was announced.