Katie Zacharia out as White House press secretary after five days Katie Zacharia left the White House press secretary role on Friday after just five days, following a widely panned briefing, a bar exam admission, and Trump telling her to reconsider. She said on X it was an honor to work for him. Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary after just five days, the shortest modern stint in the role, after President Donald Trump publicly told her to reconsider her job on Friday. Zacharia Tributes Trump On Social MediaShe later posted a tribute to Trump on X, calling him kind and hardworking, in a message that had 7.2 million views as of Saturday morning. The post included a photo of Zacharia smiling next to Trump at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, with a blurred map on the desk. She wrote that no one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to, and that it was an honor to work for him.The message was pinned atop screenshots of Trump congratulating her on her appointment on Oct 9. Trump confirmed the move to reporters Friday before leaving the White House for a rally in Georgia. He said he told her she did not have to do the job if she did not want to and that she found it much tougher than expected. He added that he advised her to reconsider because the news coverage would not ease up.Zacharia, 41, began the job Monday and faced immediate questions about her credentials. Her only White House press briefing lasted just 14 minutes and she spent most of it reading awkwardly from a prepared script before taking questions from three conservative outlets. She said she had received briefing papers only Tuesday morning and would have preferred a short introductory appearance.Media Questions Zacharia Bar Exam CredentialsOn Thursday, Sean Hannity said on Fox News that her briefing had been widely panned and questioned her decision to call herself an attorney despite failing the California bar exam and never retaking it. Zacharia acknowledged the failure, and when Trump asked Tuesday where she passed the exam, she replied when she moved to China.On Friday morning, she struggled on Fox and Friends to deliver talking points about the search of Rep Ilhan Omars home and could not say when her next briefing would occur. The Wall Street Journal reported that Zacharia was sitting for a White House interview Friday when she was summoned away to learn her assignment had ended. She did not return to the interview.A source said she would transition to a new role and was to have dined Friday night with Vice President JD Vance. The Daily Beast reported that a White House official said she was transitioning out. Trump had been unimpressed by her debut and concerned about the coverage, asking aides for feedback. Zacharia had few established allies inside the West Wing, where most of the press team had been loyal to her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt.Sources told The Daily Beast that Zacharia was stunned and unprepared for the backlash, telling Trump the week was rougher than she could ever expect. By then, Trump had decided to transition her out. The Hannity interview was striking given his status as a prominent Trump media ally, prompting speculation it could have been a coordinated hit job by figures inside the administration. Zacharia previously was communications adviser to Truth Social and a commentator on Fox and Newsmax.Zacharia Joins Wave Of Female ExitsShe also served as a Homeland Security spokesperson under Kristi Noem but quit after a few months, blaming the long commute from California. Her departure is another high profile exit by a woman from Trumps administration, coming days after US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle departed and following former Cabinet officials Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Tulsi Gabbard.Her five day tenure eclipsed the previous record for shortest modern White House stint, Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 11 days as communications director in the first term. Records are made to be broken. But I take no pleasure in other peoples pain, Scaramucci tweeted Friday. The decision also underscored tensions inside the White House, with reports Trump bypassed Chief of Staff Susie Wiles when selecting Zacharia.Some compared it to the selection of Sarah Huckabee Sanderss successor in the first term. Sanders had brought longtime associate Hogan Gidley into the press office as principal deputy and presumed successor, but Trump instead installed Stephanie Grisham, the first White House press secretary to hold no press briefings.Donald Trumps White House is in upheaval as yet another official leaves his administration amid embarrassing scandals and sinking approval ratings, said Kendall Witmer, deputy communications director for the Democratic National Committee. Among those mentioned as possible successors is CNN commentator Scott Jennings, who is close to Wiles. Asked on air Friday if he was interested, Jennings diverted, saying he had not spoken to anybody about it that day.It is not clear what is next for Zacharia or how soon Trump will appoint another press secretary.