Move over, Mooch: The internet has a new way to measure short White House stints.

A brief White House tenure

Zacharia served as White House press secretary for five days. Memes about her departure began circulating online, with some users comparing her tenure to Scaramucci’s time in the role.

Scaramucci held the position for roughly 10 days, or six days if the time between Trump’s announcement and Scaramucci’s first day is excluded. Trump fired him.

Scaramucci offers advice

Scaramucci followed Zacharia’s path in the job through a series of tweets. He first wished her well, then addressed her departure by Friday. He described himself as an expert on short White House tenures and advised Zacharia to turn off the news and spend time with her family. He also wrote that she would eventually see the experience as a favor from the Universe.

Online users find a measure

Social media users began working out how many “Scaramuccis” Zacharia’s five days represented, making his brief tenure a new benchmark. One post counted from Monday morning, October 12, when Zacharia stepped to the podium.

The comparisons came amid broader questions about short job stints. Workers have often been advised to stay in a position for at least a year, though résumé dates do not tell the full story.

Short jobs and job seeking

Leadership consultants have told Business Insider that quick moves can strengthen a résumé when they bring more responsibility and chances to build skills. Such changes may signal ambition and adaptability rather than instability.

A LinkedIn profile image of Zacharia with the “#OpenToWork” tag also spread on X. The post was originally shared by the Democrats’ official account. Recruiters have called the public tag a major warning sign to hiring managers, saying it can suggest desperation. But 2024 data showed workers displaying the public green tag received 40% more messages from LinkedIn Recruiter than those using only the private signal.