Karoline Leavitt has broken her silence on Katie Zacharia’s record-setting five-day tenure in the West Wing. The former White House press secretary shared a blunt assessment of why her successor’s time at the briefing room podium ended almost as soon as it started.
Karoline Leavitt reacts to Katie Zacharia’s departure
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on Katie Zacharia’s brief tenure as her successor. Leavitt told Fox News Digital that the press secretary role “obviously was not” for Zacharia. Zacharia lasted just five days before departing the position earlier this month.
She acknowledged the difficulty of the role during her Thursday remarks. “Many people say it’s one of the hardest jobs in politics,” she said. She added that sometimes performance under pressure remains unknown until someone steps into the spotlight.
Leavitt served as Trump’s press secretary from the start of his second term until August 27, 2026. She stepped down to focus on her family and has since appeared as a Fox News contributor. She also says she is helping the president select his next press secretary. Leavitt emphasized that Trump understands the demands of the position well. “He knows he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies,” she said. She stressed that the role requires loyalty and a willingness to fight.
Zacharia faced significant backlash after her 14-minute debut press conference. She read choppily from a script and only called on three reporters from MAGA-friendly outlets. Questions also arose about the legitimacy of her legal background during her short tenure.
Two days after her shaky briefing, Zacharia confirmed that she had not passed the California bar exam. She had previously described herself as a “lawyer” on social media platforms. The revelation intensified scrutiny of her professional background during her short tenure.
Despite the controversy, Zacharia expressed pride in her record. “Answering the president’s call to serve was an honor,” she told the New York Post. She said her children watched her step up for one of the most prominent jobs in the world. Zacharia also framed her experience as a display of resilience. She said she stood firm in her beliefs and continued supporting the president. She described the experience as showing her children what courage looks like amid criticism.
