Leavitt’s Advice for Trump’s Next Press Secretary Draws Fire
WHO:
Newsweek - Karoline Leavitt, identified as a former White House press secretary, assessed Katie Zacharia’s brief time as her successor.
Alternet - Leavitt said she is helping President Trump find the next White House press secretary.
Alternet - Zacharia, Leavitt’s successor, was ousted after five days in the job.
Alternet - Trump, Zacharia, and the White House were involved in the press-secretary transition.
Alternet - Bryan Jones, described as a former radio host and political and cultural writer, said on X that Scott Jennings was an obvious candidate for press secretary.
Alternet - A Washington Sun columnist and other X users criticized or joked about Leavitt’s advice.
Alternet - Polymarket shared a post about the job on X, encouraging users to bet on who would be selected.
Fox News - Leavitt discussed helping Trump find a new press secretary after Zacharia’s five-day tenure.
WHAT:
The Times of India - Leavitt said she prepared extensively for her own press conferences, especially her first, by reading and studying, speaking with Cabinet members and the president, and absorbing as much information as possible.
The Times of India - Leavitt said a press secretary must be able to “go out there and put up a fight.”
The Times of India - Leavitt said she left the press-secretary role after the birth of her second child and was continuing to work.
The Times of India - Leavitt said she was the youngest person to serve as press secretary.
Alternet - Leavitt called the press-secretary role a “tough job” requiring “a lot of preparation” and said performance can be difficult to judge before someone faces the job.
Alternet - Leavitt said the role calls for someone “tough, smart, understands his policies,” and “loyal.”
Alternet - Zacharia’s inaugural press conference lasted 14 minutes; she struggled to answer questions and reportedly misled the public about her legal credentials.
Alternet - Zacharia was criticized after it emerged she had not passed the U.S. bar, despite saying she had done so in China.
Alternet - Zacharia told The California Post she had “no regrets” and was proud she “said yes,” “stood firm,” and supported Trump.
Alternet - A Washington Sun columnist wrote that Zacharia was “not mean enough” and “not a good enough liar”; another X user joked that someone must be “dead behind the eyes to lie like Leavitt.”
Alternet - Jones said Jennings had the rhetorical skills and “complete absence of shame” for the role.
Alternet - Zacharia’s five-day stint was described as the shortest ever for a Trump hire; Anthony Scaramucci previously held the record, lasting 11 days as White House communications chief.
Alternet - Trump reportedly told advisers he was embarrassed by Zacharia’s debut and said she lacked talent; he later encouraged her to quit, saying she did not need the headache of public attacks.
WHERE:
Alternet - Zacharia’s inaugural press conference took place in the context of her White House press-secretary role.
Alternet - Zacharia discussed her departure with The California Post.
WHEN:
The Times of India - Leavitt said she would join Fox News as an on-air contributor “From November 1,” providing political analysis and commentary.
WHY:
Alternet - Leavitt said the job was not suited to Zacharia.
Alternet - Trump reportedly selected Zacharia with an on-the-spot offer without consulting his chief of staff.
HOW:
Alternet - Leavitt spoke exclusively with FOX News Digital about the role and the search.
Alternet - Leavitt said it can be difficult to assess candidates’ performance until they undertake the job.
(UPDATED October 22, 2026 23:07 UTC)
Karoline Leavitt says she is helping President Trump find a new White House press secretary after Katie Zacharia was removed following just five days in the job. Leavitt called the position tough, demanding extensive preparation, and said it takes someone tough, smart, loyal, and familiar with Trump’s policies. Zacharia’s first news conference lasted 14 minutes, and she faced criticism after questions arose about her claim to have passed the bar exam in China. Trump reportedly told advisers he was embarrassed by her debut and later encouraged her to leave. Zacharia told The California Post she had no regrets and was proud to have supported Trump. Leavitt said she prepared for briefings by studying and speaking with Cabinet members and the president. She also said she left the role after her second child was born, and will join Fox News as an on-air contributor from November 1.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 21:09 UTC)
Karoline Leavitt says she is helping President Trump choose a new White House press secretary after Katie Zacharia’s five-day stint ended. Leavitt described the position as a tough job requiring extensive preparation, and said candidates can be hard to assess before they take it on. She said the role calls for someone tough, smart, loyal, and familiar with Trump’s policies. Zacharia’s first press conference lasted 14 minutes, and she drew criticism over claims about her legal credentials after it emerged she had not passed the U.S. bar. Trump reportedly felt embarrassed by her debut and later encouraged her to leave. Zacharia told The California Post she had no regrets and was proud to have supported Trump. Her tenure was the shortest for a Trump hire, surpassing Anthony Scaramucci’s 11 days as communications chief. Commentators have floated Scott Jennings as a possible successor.