White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is departing her post, a White House official confirmed Friday, marking a swift exit for the spokeswoman who officially started Monday.
Zacharia's departure follows public scrutiny over her performance and legal credentials during her first briefing Tuesday morning. President Donald Trump publicly questioned her future on Friday, telling reporters he had discussed the matter with her before leaving for a campaign rally in Georgia.
"Katie, is this for you?" Trump said he asked her, advising her to "reconsider" serving in the position, though he stated the decision was hers. "Katie, you know, you don't have to do this if you don't want," Trump told reporters, adding that Zacharia had been treated "pretty nastily" during her brief tenure.
Zacharia's first briefing drew immediate attention for a lengthy, halting opening statement she read from notes. She called on only three reporters, raising questions about her readiness for the role.
Much of the scrutiny focused on Zacharia's credentials as an attorney. Reporters asked her directly where she passed the bar exam while she stood with President Trump. Zacharia responded, "When I moved to China."
Zacharia, 41, is a graduate of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and describes herself as an attorney. Her LinkedIn profile indicates she worked for Zhon Lun, a Beijing-based law firm, from 2011 through 2013.
"I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials," Zacharia said in a statement. The White House did not clarify whether she holds a U.S. law license.
Before her White House appointment, Zacharia served as a communications advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that operates President Trump's Truth Social platform. She also made frequent appearances as a pro-Trump commentator on Fox News and Newsmax.
