Trump's Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's Briefing Raises Eyebrows
WHO:
NBC News - Katie Zacharia was previously a conservative commentator who worked for President Trump's social media company.
CNN - Katie Zacharia is the new White House press secretary.
CNN - President Donald Trump is the current president.
NBC News - Kimberly Guilfoyle is the Ambassador to Greece.
WHAT:
NBC News - Zacharia's first briefing lasted less than 15 minutes and she called on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her second day on the job.
ABC News - Zacharia stated, “I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” without mentioning the task of disseminating accurate information to Americans.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
ABC News - Trump praised Zacharia's debut as “excellent” shortly after her briefing.
CNN - Trump had previously grown fond of Zacharia’s appearances on Fox News, which influenced his decision to hire her.
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing early, stating that Trump would soon take questions from reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for Alaska.
CNN - A CNN Reliable Sources analysis of the White House video archive found Leavitt, who departed the role in August, held formal briefings about once a week on average before having her second child.
CNN - She held another 49 briefings through the rest of 2025, which included several nontraditional briefings.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
ABC News - During her briefing, Zacharia mixed up the words “husband” and “president” and looked downward while reading from a script.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
CNN - Several White House officials are questioning how long Katie Zacharia will keep the press secretary job after her first briefing, noting her performance was unlikely to satisfy Trump.
CNN - One Trump adviser stated, “The best thing she did was break the news about [Ambassador to Greece Kimberly] Guilfoyle — at least that takes the focus off of her performance.”
CNN - Another adviser noted that while Zacharia “wasn’t great,” it was just her first press briefing, and they expected Trump would give her the benefit of the doubt.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, telling reporters, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander called out Zacharia for potentially violating the Hatch Act during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
CNN - Several White House officials characterized Zacharia's performance as “brutal,” with descriptions including “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
CNN - Trump advisers expressed confusion about why Zacharia was rushed to the podium, with one stating, “She should have been doing murder boards for two weeks before going up there.”
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing after approximately 14 minutes, which is notably shorter than the average 45 minutes of former press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefings.
CNN - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia held her first press briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets.
NBC News - Zacharia's first briefing lasted less than 15 minutes and she called on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets.
NBC News - Trump announced that Zacharia is the successor to Karoline Leavitt.
NBC News - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which she called on three reporters from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
Alternet - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets.
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted about 15 minutes, during which she called on three reporters from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
ABC News - Trump praised Zacharia's debut as “excellent” shortly after her briefing.
CNN - Trump had previously grown fond of Zacharia’s appearances on Fox News, which influenced his decision to hire her.
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing early, stating that Trump would soon take questions from reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for Alaska.
CNN - A CNN Reliable Sources analysis of the White House video archive found Leavitt, who departed the role in August, held formal briefings about once a week on average before having her second child.
CNN - She held another 49 briefings through the rest of 2025, which included several nontraditional briefings.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
ABC News - During her briefing, Zacharia mixed up the words “husband” and “president” and looked downward while reading from a script.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
ABC News - Zacharia stated, “I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” without mentioning the task of disseminating accurate information to Americans.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she’ll break Scaramucci’s record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
ABC News - Trump praised Zacharia's debut as “excellent” shortly after her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, which is shorter than the average 45 minutes of former press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefings.
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
Alternet - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
CNN - Several White House officials are questioning how long Katie Zacharia will keep the press secretary job after her first briefing, noting her performance was unlikely to satisfy Trump.
CNN - One Trump adviser stated, “The best thing she did was break the news about [Ambassador to Greece Kimberly] Guilfoyle — at least that takes the focus off of her performance.”
CNN - Another adviser noted that while Zacharia “wasn’t great,” it was just her first press briefing, and they expected Trump would give her the benefit of the doubt.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, telling reporters, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander called out Zacharia for potentially violating the Hatch Act during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
CNN - Several White House officials characterized Zacharia's performance as “brutal,” with descriptions including “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
CNN - Trump advisers expressed confusion about why Zacharia was rushed to the podium, with one stating, “She should have been doing murder boards for two weeks before going up there.”
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing after approximately 14 minutes, which is notably shorter than the average 45 minutes of former press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefings.
CNN - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia held her first press briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets.
NBC News - Zacharia's first briefing lasted less than 15 minutes and she called on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets.
NBC News - Trump announced that Zacharia is the successor to Karoline Leavitt.
NBC News - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which she called on three reporters from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
CNN - Several White House officials characterized Zacharia's performance as “brutal,” with descriptions including “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
CNN - Trump advisers expressed confusion about why Zacharia was rushed to the podium, with one stating, “She should have been doing murder boards for two weeks before going up there.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
ABC News - Zacharia stated, “I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” without mentioning the task of disseminating accurate information to Americans.
ABC News - Trump praised Zacharia's debut as “excellent” shortly after her briefing.
CNN - Trump had previously grown fond of Zacharia’s appearances on Fox News, which influenced his decision to hire her.
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing early, stating that Trump would soon take questions from reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for Alaska.
CNN - A CNN Reliable Sources analysis of the White House video archive found Leavitt, who departed the role in August, held formal briefings about once a week on average before having her second child.
CNN - She held another 49 briefings through the rest of 2025, which included several nontraditional briefings.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which she called on three reporters from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her second day on the job.
Alternet - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
NBC News - Zacharia's first briefing lasted less than 15 minutes and she called on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets.
ABC News - During her briefing, Zacharia mixed up the words “husband” and “president” and looked downward while reading from a script.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing her personal life than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
ABC News - Zacharia stated, “I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” without mentioning the task of disseminating accurate information to Americans.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she’ll break Scaramucci’s record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
ABC News - Trump praised Zacharia's debut as “excellent” shortly after her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia's first briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, which is shorter than the average 45 minutes of former press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefings.
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets: Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail.
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
Alternet - One adviser noted that appearing on a cable TV panel and standing in front of the world at the podium were two different things.
Alternet - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
CNN - Several White House officials are questioning how long Katie Zacharia will keep the press secretary job after her first briefing, noting her performance was unlikely to satisfy Trump.
CNN - One Trump adviser stated, “The best thing she did was break the news about [Ambassador to Greece Kimberly] Guilfoyle — at least that takes the focus off of her performance.”
CNN - Another adviser noted that while Zacharia “wasn’t great,” it was just her first press briefing, and they expected Trump would give her the benefit of the doubt.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, telling reporters, “I thought she was very good.”
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander called out Zacharia for potentially violating the Hatch Act during her second day on the job.
Alternet - A White House official stated, “Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better fast, otherwise she'll break Scaramucci's record,” referencing Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure.
CNN - Several White House officials characterized Zacharia's performance as “brutal,” with descriptions including “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
CNN - Trump advisers expressed confusion about why Zacharia was rushed to the podium, with one stating, “She should have been doing murder boards for two weeks before going up there.”
CNN - Zacharia concluded her briefing after approximately 14 minutes, which is notably shorter than the average 45 minutes of former press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefings.
CNN - Zacharia stated, “I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska.”
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
Alternet - Longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested that Zacharia's remarks could qualify as a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics during her briefing.
CNN - Zacharia held her first press briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes.
NBC News - Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
CNN - Trump praised Zacharia after the briefing, stating, “I thought she was very good.”
CNN - Zacharia called on three reporters during her briefing, all from conservative outlets.
WHERE:
CNN - The briefing took place at the White House.
WHEN:
Boston.com News - Zacharia was named to the press secretary position on a Friday.
NY Post - Monday was her first official day in the job.
CNN - The briefing occurred on a Tuesday.
WHY:
NBC News - White House officials questioned the decision to rush Zacharia to the podium, suggesting she should have been better prepared.
CNN - Several White House officials and Trump advisers expressed confusion about why the White House rushed Zacharia to the podium, with one stating, “She should have been doing murder boards for two weeks before going up there.”
CNN - Some White House officials questioned the decision to rush Zacharia to the podium, suggesting she should have been better prepared.
CNN - Trump had previously grown fond of Zacharia’s appearances on Fox News, which influenced his decision to hire her.
HOW:
NBC News - Zacharia's performance was characterized by some White House officials as “brutal,” with descriptions including “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
Alternet - Critics noted that Zacharia spent more time discussing herself and her family than addressing significant issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
CNN - Zacharia's briefing included an opening statement that focused on praising Trump’s accomplishments.
CNN - Zacharia concluded the briefing early, stating that Trump would soon take questions from reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for Alaska.
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 16:01 UTC)
Katie Zacharia held her first press briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes and featured questions from three reporters, all from conservative outlets. During the briefing, she announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations and concluded by stating that President Trump would soon head out to Marine One for a historic trip to Alaska. Trump praised her performance afterward, saying, “I thought she was very good,” despite some White House officials expressing concerns about her delivery and the potential for a Hatch Act violation.
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 13:58 UTC)
Katie Zacharia held her first press briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes and included questions from reporters at conservative outlets like Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail. After the briefing, Trump praised her performance, stating, “I thought she was very good,” although some White House officials expressed concerns about her approach and suggested she might need to improve quickly to avoid breaking Anthony Scaramucci's record of just 11 days in the role. Additionally, Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations, marking a significant development during her initial days as press secretary.
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 13:08 UTC)
Katie Zacharia, who previously served as a conservative commentator for Trump’s social media company, has been announced as the successor to Karoline Leavitt. In her first briefing, which lasted less than 15 minutes, she only called on three reporters from conservative outlets before abruptly ending the session to allow President Trump to head out to Marine One for a historic trip to Alaska. Some White House officials criticized the decision to rush her to the podium, describing her performance as “brutal” and noting it was “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.”
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 11:57 UTC)
Zacharia's first briefing lasted about 15 minutes, during which she called on reporters from conservative outlets like Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, and President Trump praised her performance as "very good." However, several White House officials described her delivery as “brutal,” with some critics noting that she spent more time discussing herself than addressing key issues like the economy or American soldiers in the Middle East. In a notable development, Zacharia also announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations.
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 08:00 UTC)
Zacharia held her first briefing, which lasted about 15 minutes, where she called on reporters from conservative outlets like Breitbart, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, and afterward, Trump praised her performance, saying, “I thought she was very good.” However, longtime reporter Peter Alexander raised concerns that her remarks might violate the Hatch Act by promoting Republican politics, while Zacharia announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations. Critics pointed out that during the briefing, Zacharia focused more on her personal life than on pressing issues such as American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 07:11 UTC)
In her first briefing, Zacharia spoke for less than 15 minutes and only called on three reporters from conservative outlets, while mixing up the words “husband” and “president” as she read from a script. Critics pointed out that she focused more on her personal life than on pressing issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy, and longtime reporter Peter Alexander suggested her comments could even be a Hatch Act violation for promoting Republican politics. Trump later praised her debut as “excellent,” but a White House official warned that she needs to improve quickly to avoid breaking Scaramucci’s record of an 11-day tenure.
--
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 02:03 UTC)
Zacharia's first briefing lasted about 14 minutes, significantly shorter than the average 45 minutes of her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, and she called on three reporters from conservative outlets, including Breitbart and Fox News. Critics pointed out that she spent more time discussing her personal life than addressing pressing issues like American soldiers overseas or the economy, and longtime reporter Peter Alexander raised concerns that her comments might violate the Hatch Act by promoting Republican politics. A White House official remarked that while getting behind the podium is challenging, Zacharia needs to improve quickly to avoid breaking Anthony Scaramucci's record of just 11 days in the role, and she concluded the briefing by announcing President Trump's departure for a historic trip to Alaska.
--
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 19:59 UTC)
Several White House officials are expressing doubts about how long Katie Zacharia will remain as press secretary following her first briefing, with one Trump adviser noting that her best moment was breaking news about Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, which shifted focus away from her performance. While another adviser acknowledged that Zacharia "wasn't great," they believe Trump will likely give her the benefit of the doubt since it was only her first briefing. Despite the criticism, Trump praised her efforts, stating, "I thought she was very good," although concerns linger about her potential violation of the Hatch Act and the pressure she faces to improve quickly to avoid breaking Anthony Scaramucci's record of just 11 days in the role.
--
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 18:02 UTC)
Zacharia's performance during her briefing has been described by several White House officials as “brutal,” with terms like “unusual” and “awkward” coming up frequently. Advisers to Trump expressed confusion over why she was rushed to the podium, with one suggesting she should have prepared more thoroughly beforehand. The briefing lasted about 14 minutes, significantly shorter than the average 45 minutes of her predecessor, and critics pointed out that she focused more on personal anecdotes than pressing issues like American soldiers in the Middle East or the economy.
--
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 17:05 UTC)
Katie Zacharia has been appointed as the new White House press secretary and held her first briefing at the White House, which lasted about 15 minutes. During the briefing, she announced that the White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as Ambassador to Greece amid misconduct allegations, while President Trump praised her performance, stating, “I thought she was very good.” Zacharia's briefing included an opening statement highlighting Trump's accomplishments and concluded early, as Trump was set to take questions from reporters on the South Lawn before departing for Alaska.