Katie Zacharia: Trump's press secretary responds after leaving job a week into appointment

Katie Zacharia has left her role as White House press secretary a week after being appointed, saying "it was an honor to work for" Donald Trump.

It comes amid scrutiny over her claim to be a lawyer and bad reviews of her first press conference.

Mr Trump said on Friday he had told her to reconsider the role, and soon after a senior White House official confirmed to NBC News that she was out of a job.

The US president said Ms Zacharia had been treated "so nasty" by some sections of the media and he wanted her to be "happy".

He said she had told him the job was "a lot tougher", but he would "let her make that decision" [on whether to resign].

"She's a nice person, a great person, and she's been treated roughly," the president told reporters.

He said he had asked her if she wanted to "really live like this" as the media would probably not "ease up".

Just days ago, the president said he thought his new press chief would be "terrific" but on Friday admitted "maybe it's not for her".

'I wish more Americans appreciated' Trump

In a post on her personal X account, Ms Zacharia did not say why she was leaving the role, but paid tribute to Mr Trump.

"President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man," she said. "I wish more Americans appreciated him.

"No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to. It was an honor to work for him."

Ms Zacharia, who received a law degree from California's Pepperdine University, was in the spotlight after having repeatedly referred to herself as a lawyer in interviews.

She admitted failing the bar exam in the state and said she never tried again as she was moving to China.

The 42-year-old said she had been careful not to call herself an "attorney at law" - which would indicate she was qualified to practise.

Ms Zacharia told Fox News she had consulted "legal professionals" who told her it was acceptable to call herself a lawyer as she attended a "reputable law school" and had "legal experience".

She also said in separate comments she had "practised international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials" while living in China with her husband.

Doubts were also raised over that claim, however, as the country requires Chinese citizenship to pass the bar exam.

Gaffe during shaky debut

Ms Zacharia's first time taking questions on behalf of the Trump administration was only on Tuesday, when she spoke for an unusually short 15 minutes and took just three questions.

She spent more than half that time reading pre-prepared remarks.

Asked by Fox News if the US had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, she told the reporter she would "have to get back to you on that".

There was also an embarrassing slip when she referred to "my president" instead of "my husband".

The mother of four first became known publicly as a conservative commentator and often appeared on Fox News and also right-wing media.

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The long-time Trump loyalist worked for the company behind his Truth Social platform, and briefly in the Department of Homeland Security press office.

Ms Zacharia always had a tough act to follow.

Her 29-year-old predecessor Karoline Leavitt, who had been in the job since January 2025, was widely praised.

More from Sky News:
What happened to Trump's previous press secretaries?

In 2017, during Mr Trump's first term, communications director Anthony Scaramucci lasted 10 days in the job - or six days if counting from his official start date.

Posting on X, he said it was a lucky escape for Ms Zacharia.

He posted: "Dear @katiezacharia ---- speaking as the world's leading expert on short White House tenures: turn off the news and go enjoy your family.

"In time you'll realize that the Universe did you a major favor."

(c) Sky News 2026: Katie Zacharia: Trump's press secretary responds after leaving job a week into appointment