Scaramucci on Short-Lived Press Secretary: 'Records Are Made to Be Broken'

Anthony Scaramucci, who served as White House communications director for 11 days, has commented on the brief tenure of President Donald Trump's newly appointed press secretary, Katie Zacharia, who was reportedly out of the role after just five days.

"Records are made to be broken," Scaramucci posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday. "But I take no pleasure in other people's pain."

Zacharia's five-day stint as press secretary concluded after Trump expressed doubts about her continued ability to serve in the position. She began her role on Monday, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who departed in late August. Zacharia had reportedly interviewed for and accepted the position on the Friday prior to her Monday start.

During her first press briefing on Tuesday, Zacharia noted that her briefing materials were not finalized until 8 a.m. that morning, with the briefing scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Her appearance lasted approximately 14 minutes, and she took questions from only three outlets before excusing herself.

Questions regarding Zacharia's qualifications also surfaced, particularly concerning her use of the term "lawyer." The Wall Street Journal reported that Zacharia had not passed the California bar exam, and other outlets were unable to locate her bar records. Zacharia addressed these concerns in interviews, explaining on Real America's Voice that she had prioritized her marriage and family. She later appeared on Fox News Channel with Sean Hannity, who discussed the discrepancy.

On Friday morning, Zacharia was seen conducting a Fox & Friends interview and briefly addressed reporters, stating she would not take questions but looked forward to working with them. When President Trump departed the White House that afternoon, Zacharia was not with him. He later told reporters that he had informed Zacharia, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to," and suggested she "reconsider."

Following Trump's departure on Marine One, a White House official confirmed to the Daily Mail that Zacharia was "transitioning out" of the role.