White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Steps Down
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is stepping down from her role, according to a White House official. This unexpected move comes just days after Zacharia officially started her position, with her first briefing raising concerns about her performance and legal credentials.
President Trump expressed uncertainty about Zacharia’s future, mentioning a recent discussion with her before heading to a campaign rally in Georgia. He stated, “I just spoke to her about it. I said, ‘Katie, is this for you?’ She’s been treated, I would say, pretty nastily.”
Zacharia, a 41-year-old graduate of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and self-described attorney, took on the role of Trump’s chief spokesperson amidst his declining popularity and the upcoming midterm elections.
Scrutiny Over Legal Credentials
Questions surrounding Zacharia’s legal qualifications arose when reporters asked her where she passed the bar exam. She mentioned a period of working in China from 2011 to 2013 at a Beijing-based law firm called Zhon Lun. When asked about her U.S. attorney license, Zacharia stated that she “practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”
Recently, Zacharia served as a communications advisor for the Trump Media & Technology Group, managing Trump’s Truth Social platform. She also appeared as a pro-Trump commentator on various conservative networks like Fox News and Newsmax.
NPR’s Brian Mann contributed to this report.
