White House says Katie Zacharia is transitioning out as press secretary days after starting role

A brief tenure in the role

A White House official said Zacharia is leaving the press secretary position. She officially began Monday, held her first briefing Tuesday, and was expected to be out by Friday.

Her debut briefing drew criticism over a long, halting opening statement read from notes and her decision to call on only three reporters. Questions also focused on her legal background.

Trump leaves the choice to her

Trump told reporters Friday that he had spoken with Zacharia shortly before leaving for a campaign rally in Georgia. He said he asked whether the job was right for her and noted she had been treated “pretty nastily.” Trump said he was leaving the decision to Zacharia, but advised her to reconsider taking the position.

Questions about legal credentials

Zacharia, 41, graduated from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and describes herself as an attorney. When reporters asked where she had passed the bar exam, she replied, “When I moved to China.” Her LinkedIn page describes work from 2011 through 2013 at Zhon Lun, a Beijing-based law firm. Asked by NPR to clarify whether she is licensed as an attorney in the United States, Zacharia said she had “practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials.”

Work before the press office

Before becoming Trump’s chief spokesperson, Zacharia worked as a communications advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social. She also appeared frequently as a pro-Trump commentator on Fox News and Newsmax. She took the role as Trump’s popularity had fallen to record lows and Republicans were working to limit potential losses in the midterm elections.