Katie Zacharia's Rocky Debut Puts Spotlight on Press Secretary Job
Katie Zacharia's first briefing as White House press secretary lasted less than 15 minutes, but it was long enough to spark a wave of criticism and a debate over what the job demands.
Zacharia stepped up to the podium in the James Brady Press Briefing Room on Tuesday, just four days after President Donald Trump named her to the role. She took questions from three outlets, Breitbart, Fox and the Daily Mail, before ending the briefing as Trump prepared to leave for Alaska, Forbes reported.
A Big Announcement and a Few Stumbles
Zacharia opened with prepared remarks on Trump's campaign rallies ahead of the November 3 midterms and the administration's record on energy, tariffs and immigration. Her main news was that the White House had asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. "She has been a wonderful asset to the team and we wish her well," Zacharia said.
Several moments drew attention online. Asked about Trump's military operation with Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, she said Trump "had a historic one-day war and now we are, have a booming economy and a, a great relationship with Venezuela."
At another point, she referred to her husband as "my president" before correcting herself. "Excuse me, my husband, uh, that's, that's a good one," she said.
She also faced questions about her legal background. Trump called her an "attorney" when announcing her appointment, but journalist Judd Legum reported that she is not licensed to practice law anywhere in the U.S. Asked about the reporting, Zacharia said she passed the bar when she "moved to China," according to Forbes.
Critics Pile On
Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on X that the briefing was "basically an SNL skit." Former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield called it a "rocky start" and "very unimpressive right out of the gate," though she noted Zacharia had been named only days earlier.
Criticism also came from Trump's orbit. Sarah Matthews, a former Trump deputy press secretary, called it "a rather underwhelming debut," Newsweek reported. Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 11 days as Trump's communications director in 2017, posted: "the clock is running. Thus far 1/11th of a Scaramucci." Former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart told CNN, "It was a little bizarre to rush her out there, then rush her out of the room."
Media coach Beverly Hallberg said the job "isn't the kind of position where you should be learning on the job," pointing to Zacharia's heavy reliance on notes and her slow pace. According to CNN, several White House officials and advisers privately called the appearance "awkward" or "stilted."
Defenders See Promise
Not everyone saw a disaster. Trump said, "I thought she was very good." White House communications director Steven Cheung called Zacharia "a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team."
Former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer said on Fox News that delivering real news "gave her substance." Democratic strategist Melissa DeRosa said, "I thought that she presented well," and called her decision to leave quickly after delivering the news "a really smart move."
Zacharia told Newsweek, "I am grateful to serve President Trump as Press Secretary." At the podium, she said her goal was to "amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump's incredible agenda," and described Trump as "his own best spokesperson."
Big Shoes to Fill
Zacharia, a conservative commentator and former State Department employee, most recently worked for Trump's social media company. She was tapped for the role on Friday.
She replaces Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down in August after more than 19 months on the job to spend more time with her family.
Some White House officials are already questioning how long Zacharia will keep the job, according to Forbes. With the midterms just weeks away, her next briefings will be closely watched.
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