Katie Zacharia fired — See her time as press secretary

Katie Zacharia was fired as White House press secretary after just five days on the job after a rocky first briefing, the revelation she had misrepresented herself as a lawyer and President Donald Trump casted doubt on her ability to serve in the role. Four sources familiar with the decision confirmed her ouster, including a senior White House official, who told USA TODAY that Zacharia is "transitioning out" of the job. Her departure came shortly after Trump told reporters the job might not be for her and had asked her to consider stepping down.

See her first week in office in photos, starting here as Zacharia holds her first press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, Oct. 13, 2026. Zacharia, 41, a conservative commentator tapped for the high-profile job, replaced former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who was known for her aggressive approach as she set the tone for the White House's handling of a wide range of issues.