Karoline Leavitt takes brutal shot at Katie Zacharia after five-day stint as Trump’s new press secretary
Karoline Leavitt criticised Katie Zacharia’s brief time as White House press secretary, saying the job was not suited to her, while wishing her and her family well. Leavitt said President Donald Trump was still considering who should take the role and that she had offered to help identify a replacement.
Zacharia began the job on 12 October and gave her first briefing the next day; it lasted 14 minutes and included questions from three reporters. Trump praised her performance, but her preparation and experience came under scrutiny, including after a Fox News interview in which Sean Hannity challenged her about the short briefing and her description of herself as a lawyer despite failing California’s bar exam. Leavitt said she had spent more than two months preparing before her first briefing in January 2025, which lasted about 46 minutes.
In short
- Leavitt said the press secretary role was not suited to Zacharia.
- Zacharia’s debut briefing lasted 14 minutes and took three questions.
- Leavitt said she had more than two months to prepare for hers.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Leavitt’s criticism can be seen as a fair assessment of a demanding public role: the press secretary needs to handle sustained questioning, communicate accurately and be well prepared. Zacharia’s brief first briefing and questions about her experience could reasonably prompt doubts about whether she was ready, while Leavitt’s offer to help find a replacement suggests a focus on ensuring the role is filled effectively.
The case against
A short first briefing and limited experience do not by themselves establish that Zacharia was unsuited to the job, particularly when Trump praised her performance. She had only just begun, and public criticism from a predecessor could be seen as premature or needlessly personal; a fair assessment might allow more time to judge her work and distinguish questions about credentials from her ability to perform the role.