Trump tells new press secretary Katie Zacharia to 'reconsider' her role after rocky debut

Published October 17, 2026 • By Naeemofficial782

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he had advised his newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, to reconsider her role — less than a week after she started the job.

"I said, 'Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider,'" Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One for a rally in Georgia, according to The Hill. "I said, 'You think about it, but I would reconsider.'"

Trump said the decision was ultimately up to Zacharia, telling reporters: "Katie, do you need this? I don't think you need this." He described her as a "very nice person" who had been treated "very, very badly" by the media.

From 'very good' to 'reconsider'

The shift in Trump's public posture has been rapid. On Tuesday, when asked by reporters what he thought of Zacharia's first briefing, he replied that she did "very good," according to the BBC. Three days later, he was telling reporters he had encouraged her to walk away.

"I said: 'Is this for you Katie, because honestly you don't need this. You don't have to be treated this badly,'" Trump recounted. He added: "Welcome to the world of Trump."

Zacharia, 42, was appointed as Trump's sixth chief spokesperson across his two administrations. A political commentator and frequent fixture on Newsmax and Fox News, she previously worked as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security and as a communications adviser for Truth Social. Trump had praised her as "loyal" and "a devoted fan and member of Maga" when announcing her appointment last week.

The bar exam controversy

Zacharia's brief tenure was shadowed by questions about how she had presented her legal career. Trump had referred to her as "an attorney" — but it was revealed that she had failed to pass the bar exam, according to the New York Times. The controversy followed her first and only press briefing on Tuesday, which was marked by an eight-minute script reading, only three questions taken from reporters, and an awkward slip-up, the Times reported.

During two subsequent appearances on Fox News — typically a friendly space for Republicans — Zacharia defended her performance and qualifications, saying she had been treated "pretty nastily," according to the BBC.

Out after five days

The New York Times reported Friday that Zacharia had been fired after less than a week on the job, according to three people familiar with the matter. Neither the White House nor Zacharia responded to requests for comment. CNN reported that Trump's remarks amounted to a "remarkable vote of no confidence" in his press secretary, who entered the job just seven days earlier.

Trump said he would speak with Zacharia when he returned to Washington after weekend travel to Georgia and Florida. "I want her to be happy," he told reporters.