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The Wire
Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Katie Zacharia
Photo: Andrea Hanks / The White House, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Katie Zacharia

Former White House Press Secretary (five days) Out the door

A conservative television commentator who served five days as White House press secretary in October 2026, the shortest tenure on record; the post has been vacant since.

Why they left: Administration officials said on October 16, 2026 that she was moving out of the job after a first briefing that drew criticism and after questions about her having described herself as a lawyer without passing a bar exam. 3 4 Now: A senior official said she would move to a new role to be announced later; none had been announced in the sources read for this profile. 4 6

Biography

Katie Zacharia grew up in California and earned a bachelor's degree and then a law degree from Pepperdine University. 1 6 She became known as a conservative commentator on Fox News and Newsmax. 1 Earlier in 2026 she worked briefly as a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security, and she then advised Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that runs Truth Social. 1 4

President Trump announced on October 9, 2026 that she would succeed Karoline Leavitt, a choice the Associated Press called a surprise. 3 Her first official day was Monday, October 12. 3 The next day she gave her only briefing. It lasted about 14 minutes, and she took questions from Breitbart, Fox News and the Daily Mail. 1 2 She announced that the president had asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the ambassador to Greece, to resign. 1

Reporters then asked about her legal background. She had described herself as a lawyer, and she acknowledged she had not passed the California bar exam. 4 NBC News found no evidence that she is licensed in any state. 4 A watchdog group, the Campaign for Accountability, asked the State Bar of California to investigate. 4 On October 16 officials said she was leaving the job. Trump said she had been treated unfairly by the press. 3

In the job

What happened while Katie held the post.

  1. Trump announced her as press secretary. 3

  2. First official day in the job. 3

  3. Held a briefing of about 14 minutes, took three questioners and announced that Trump had asked Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. She said she would keep the new media seat her predecessor created. 1 2 5

  4. Travelled with Trump to rallies in Alaska, Arizona and Montana on October 14 and 15 and held no further briefings. 3

  5. Told Fox News host Sean Hannity that she was hired for press work, not as an administration lawyer; later that day officials said she was out. 3 4

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. Critics said she had called herself a lawyer although she never passed a bar exam. The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint asking the State Bar of California to investigate, NBC News reported. 4

    Their side: She said the word fits when she offers legal analysis, that she had worked as a lawyer in China, and that she was not hired to give legal advice. 3

  2. Her first briefing was criticized by commentators in both parties as scripted and short; an unnamed White House official told MS NOW she needed to improve quickly, the AP reported. 2

    Their side: She said she kept it short so the president could take questions himself and that staff had not fully briefed her. Trump publicly praised the briefing. 3 1

Career

  1. Worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing, according to Wikipedia
  2. Director of development for special projects, Pepperdine University, according to Wikipedia
  3. Commentator on Newsmax; also appeared on Fox News
  4. Deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, Department of Homeland Security
  5. Communications adviser, Trump Media and Technology Group
  6. White House Press Secretary

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Katie Zacharia. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. AP (via KBTX), Katie Zacharia, Trump's new White House press secretary, faces reporters for the first time, Oct. 13, 2026
  2. AP (via KBTX), Katie Zacharia's White House debut raises new questions about the press secretary's job, Oct. 14, 2026
  3. AP (via WOWT), Embattled White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving job after less than a week, Oct. 16, 2026
  4. NBC News, Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary after just 5 days on the job, Oct. 16, 2026
  5. The White House, Katie Zacharia Delivers Powerful Inaugural Briefing as the 37th White House Press Secretary, Oct. 13, 2026
  6. Wikipedia, Katie Zacharia, Nov. 13, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.