Trump Prepped New Press Secretary Zacharia for Debut Briefing

President Trump personally coached his newly appointed White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, ahead of her inaugural press briefing on Tuesday. The preparation occurred shortly before the 9:30 a.m. briefing, causing a slight delay. Trump directed Zacharia to use the opportunity to highlight his administration's achievements and to announce his decision to request the resignation of US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Adhering to Trump's instructions, Zacharia began her first briefing by dedicating approximately eight minutes to praising the president. She reportedly stated that rally attendance was at record highs and presented positive data points concerning wage growth, drug prices, job creation, and energy production. A photograph of her notes indicated that three specific reporters from Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail had been pre-selected to ask questions.

Following this initial segment, Zacharia had about six minutes for open questioning. The announcement regarding Guilfoyle's resignation marked a significant piece of news delivered during the briefing.

Zacharia's rapid ascension to the role followed a swift hiring process. Early last week, Trump had expressed interest in finding a replacement for then-press secretary Karoline Leavitt. He became aware of Zacharia through her television appearances and subsequently contacted her to gauge her interest in transitioning from her advisory role at the company that manages Trump's Truth Social platform.

It remains unclear who initially suggested Zacharia for the position. After an initial positive phone conversation, Zacharia contacted the president later in the week to confirm that her departure from the Trump Media & Technology Group would not negatively impact the company. She formally interviewed at the White House on Friday, with communications director Steven Cheung present. Cheung informed Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after Trump made an offer, contrary to reports that Wiles learned of the decision from Leavitt. Wiles was reportedly not involved in the recruitment process.

Zacharia, described as a lawyer and conservative commentator, previously held a short-term role as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. She departed that position amid a broader staff shake-up. Corey Lewandowski, who was involved in her recruitment, stated that Zacharia was chosen for her "talent(s) and fierce loyalty to the president."

Trump officially announced Zacharia as Leavitt's successor on Friday, with Monday marking her first official day. She had only one day to prepare for the briefing and onboard with her new staff.