Even MAGA are cringing over Katie Zacharia’s press secretary debut

One official described the briefing as ‘brutal,’ while others questioned why Zacharia didn’t take more time to prepare

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Katie Zacharia’s rocky debut as White House press secretary drew ridicule from Democrats, left-wing commentators and Jimmy Kimmel. Yet the criticism was not limited to President Donald Trump’s opponents.

Some even wondered aloud whether her tenure might be cut short — unlike her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, who held the role for nearly two years before leaving in August to spend more time with her children.

“Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement provided to The Independent. “She is uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as Press Secretary.”

Zacharia, 41, began her Tuesday briefing by reading off prepared remarks in a halting manner.

After rattling off a series of the president’s accomplishments, she allowed time for questions from just three reporters — two of whom work at right-wing outlets Fox News and Breitbart. Later, she mistakenly called her husband “my president.” The whole ordeal was over in minutes.

“No question we’re all missing Karoline,” one advisor told the outlet, referring to Leavitt, who developed a reputation for fast-paced rebuttals. Her briefings lasted an average of 45 minutes.

Multiple White House officials also wondered why Zacharia had delivered her first briefing so soon after starting her role just a day earlier

“Why did they put her out there so quickly?” one official told CNN. “Literally zero reason to put her out on her second day, unprepared.”

Still, Zacharia’s performance received positive feedback from the person who matters most. “I thought she was very good,” Trump told reporters afterward.

The 80-year-old president had reportedly become “somewhat infatuated” with her cable news appearances before tapping her as his chief spokesperson.