Katie Zacharia believes her tense interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity may have contributed to her departure as Donald Trump‘s White House press secretary after just five days. She said they previously had a friendly relationship. As a result, she was unprepared for Hannity’s tough questioning on his Fox News show.
Katie Zacharia discusses past Sean Hannity friendship
Speaking to Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Tuesday, Zacharia said she was “just as perplexed about what happened, specifically with Sean Hannity.” She added that she “was not prepared for the hostility that I received.” They had previously maintained a friendly relationship.
Zacharia’s appointment as Donald Trump’s press secretary was announced by Trump on October 9. She officially began the role on October 12. However, her first press briefing on October 13 lasted just 14 minutes and attracted criticism. Her October 15 interview with Hannity attracted widespread attention after he questioned her claims about her legal qualifications. Although she had worked as an associate at Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm, she had not passed the U.S. bar exam.
Zacharia blamed intense media scrutiny for the difficulties she faced during her brief tenure. She said, “The media and all of Washington made it very difficult for me to do the job I set out to do.”
She also suggested she might have remained in the position without the Fox News interview. “I would hope so, and I would likely think I would be, Rob, but I can’t know what would have happened otherwise, though it would be very likely,” Zacharia remarked.
Trump later confirmed that he had encouraged her to reconsider the role. He told reporters, “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider.”
After leaving the White House, Zacharia praised Trump in a public statement. She called him “a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man.” She added, “It was an honor to work for him.”
Meanwhile, her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, defended Zacharia during an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher. Leavitt called the position “one of the hardest jobs in Washington.” Leavitt also noted that only 37 people in U.S. history had served as White House press secretary.
