White House Press Secretary's Tenure Dubbed 'Half a Scaramucci' After Five Days
Katie Zacharia's brief time in the role has led to comparisons with Anthony Scaramucci, whose own short tenure became a political benchmark.
Ousted White House press secretary Katie Zacharia's tenure lasted only five days, prompting comparisons to Anthony Scaramucci, whose 11-day stint in 2017 became a benchmark for short-lived political appointments. The brevity of Zacharia's time in the role has led to the coining of a new political phrase: 'Half a Scaramucci.'
The episode was discussed on Radio 4's Today programme, where CBS White House reporter Nancy Cordes noted that Scaramucci's tenure was so notable it became a unit of time measurement, with people saying, 'Oh, you lasted a couple of Scaramuccis!' Cordes suggested that Zacharia's tenure could now be measured similarly, stating, 'I suppose it is, she is half a Scaramucci.'
Zacharia, a mother-of-four from California, began her role with a press briefing described as a 'car crash.' Further challenges arose when she faced questions about erroneous claims regarding her bar exam status. By Friday, she had been dismissed from her position.
Despite her swift departure, Zacharia posted a photograph with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, accompanying it with a statement praising him. 'President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic and the most hardworking man,' she wrote. 'I wish more Americans appreciated him... It was an honour to work for him.'