Trump admits mistake, fires Katie Zacharia after less than one disastrous week

A brief White House tenure

Trump announced Zacharia as his choice for White House press secretary exactly one week before firing her. He said he had spoken with her shortly before making the decision official and encouraged her to consider whether she wanted to continue. Asked what he wanted her to do next, Trump said, “I just want her to be happy.” He added that he liked her and would speak with her when he returned to Washington.

Criticism after first briefing

Zacharia’s first briefing was marked by a halting reading of a prepared statement, followed by questions from three conservative-leaning outlets. She confused the president with her husband and announced the firing of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece.

White House officials initially said Trump remained confident in her. But the briefing’s awkward moments were soon followed by scrutiny of her descriptions of herself as a lawyer or attorney.

Questions over legal credentials

Popular Information author Judd Legum reported that Zacharia did not hold a law license in any U.S. state. The report said that in some states, describing herself as a lawyer or attorney could be a crime.

The Wall Street Journal later reported that she failed the California bar exam and did not retake it, while presenting herself as a lawyer during as many as 18 television appearances since last March. Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned her about the exam in an interview.

A record set aside

Zacharia’s departure came after a shorter tenure than Anthony Scaramucci’s as White House communications director. Trump hired Scaramucci in July 2017 and fired him 11 days later, following one press briefing and an expletive-filled interview with a New Yorker reporter.