Katie Zacharia Out as White House Press Secretary After First Week on the Job

Updated on: October 16, 2026 / 9:40 PM EDT / CBS News

Katie Zacharia Out as White House Press Secretary After First Week on the Job

TL;DR

  • Katie Zacharia has been removed as White House press secretary after five days.
  • Her brief tenure was marked by a criticized press briefing and questions about her legal qualifications.
  • Zacharia reportedly misrepresented herself as a lawyer, having failed the bar exam.
  • President Trump stated he would "reconsider" the job if he were in her shoes, citing the press's treatment of her.
  • She is expected to move to a new role within the administration.
  • Her departure is compared to Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure as communications director.