Hochul’s office mocks Katie Zacharia with Aaron Rodgers injury post despite governor’s press secretary scandal
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s press office posted a photo of Aaron Rodgers before his first Jets game in response to a White House post announcing Katie Zacharia’s first briefing as press secretary. The image, which had no explanation, appeared to compare Zacharia’s debut with Rodgers’ abrupt 2023 debut, when he suffered a season-ending injury after four offensive snaps.
The post drew criticism because Hochul’s former press secretary, Avi Small, resigned in July 2025 after a sexual harassment complaint and an investigation. The governor’s office said the investigation had substantially concluded but did not disclose its findings; Hochul later said “the culture was changed, the system worked”. Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, gave a briefing lasting about 14 minutes and received praise from President Donald Trump.
- Hochul’s office posted Rodgers’ injury-era photo in response to Zacharia’s debut.
- The image appeared to liken her first briefing to Rodgers’ curtailed Jets debut.
- Critics cited the governor’s office’s earlier sexual harassment scandal.
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Kathy Hochul is the Democratic governor of New York, while the White House press secretary speaks for the US president and answers questions from journalists. Katie Zacharia took on that role after Karoline Leavitt; her first briefing was a short session with reporters.
Aaron Rodgers is an American football quarterback who joined the New York Jets in 2023. He injured his Achilles tendon during his first game for the team, after only four offensive plays, and missed the rest of the season.
Hochul’s press office had earlier faced scrutiny after her press secretary Avi Small resigned in 2025 following a sexual harassment complaint and an investigation. The office did not publish the investigation’s findings, and Hochul said the system had worked.
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The case for
Hochul’s office may have intended a pointed political joke, using Rodgers’ sudden injury to suggest that a new press secretary’s first appearance could be short-lived. Supporters could see satire aimed at a high-profile White House announcement as ordinary political give-and-take, especially since the post did not explicitly mention Zacharia or make a factual allegation about her.
The case against
The post could reasonably be seen as needlessly personal: pairing a woman’s first briefing with an image associated with a serious injury invites a mocking comparison, even without an explanatory caption. The timing also risks appearing insensitive, given scrutiny of Hochul’s own office after a harassment complaint led to her former press secretary’s resignation and the investigation’s findings were not disclosed.