Katie Zacharia Surfaces in L.A. Days After Ouster as White House Press Secretary
The former press secretary was seen in workout attire in Los Angeles following her brief, five-day tenure.
Katie Zacharia, who recently concluded her tenure as White House Press Secretary, was observed in Los Angeles, California, shortly after her departure from the administration. The 41-year-old was seen in a blue and red exercise outfit. This sighting marks her first public appearance since Friday, when her five-day term as press secretary came to an end.
Zacharia's brief stint as press secretary concluded following a challenging first press briefing and questions regarding her legal credentials. She was reportedly asked to resign on Friday. President Trump commented on her departure over the weekend, stating he had asked her to reconsider the role and questioning whether it was the right fit for her.
Her five-day term is noted as the shortest in White House press secretary history, surpassing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure as White House communications director in 2017. Prior to this role, Zacharia had a six-week period as a communications adviser at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
Her initial press briefing, which lasted approximately 14 minutes, faced widespread criticism and mockery online, with even some Fox News hosts questioning her performance. She reportedly stumbled over remarks, stuttered, and misidentified the president as her husband during the briefing. Zacharia's selection for the role was considered a surprise, with her resume including time at the Department of Homeland Security, media appearances, a role at Trump Media, and a scrutinized legal career.
Questions were raised about her status as an attorney after she stated she took her bar exam in China. It was later clarified that she had taken the California bar exam in 2011, never retook it, and considered the results inconsequential, as it was not necessary for her work in China. In a televised interview, she stated that she was hired as press secretary, not White House counsel, and that the focus of her hiring was to represent the President to the press.