US President Donald Trump’s newly appointed White House Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia, is leaving the position less than a week after taking office following a series of controversies and a difficult start.
A White House official confirmed her departure to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, October 16, 2026, after Fox News reported that she was “transitioning out” of the role.
Zacharia, 41, was appointed on October 9 to replace Karoline Leavitt. However, her tenure was marked by criticism over her first press briefing and questions about her professional credentials.
Her first briefing, held on Tuesday, October 13, lasted about 14 minutes, during which she took questions from only three journalists. Her performance attracted criticism and raised questions about her readiness for the high-profile position.
The controversy intensified after it emerged that Zacharia had described herself as a lawyer despite not passing the California bar examination or obtaining a US licence to practise law. She acknowledged that she had failed the examination during subsequent media interviews.
Trump also expressed doubts about her future in the role on Friday, telling reporters that he had advised her to reconsider the position.
“I said to her, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,’” the president said, adding that he believed she had faced unfair treatment from the media.
Zacharia previously worked as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind the president’s Truth Social platform. She also briefly served in a public affairs role at the Department of Homeland Security.
Her departure comes as Trump faces growing political pressure ahead of the November 3 US congressional midterm elections.
As of Friday, the White House had confirmed that Zacharia was transitioning out of the position, but further details about her next role had not been announced.
ALSO READ:Trump Makes $5,000 Promise to Americans Ahead of 2026 Midterm Elections
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
