New White House press secretary frontrunner Scott Jennings breaks silence on Katie Zacharia’s record-breaking firing
Developed over time first seen 3 hours ago
Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator and radio host seen as a possible next White House press secretary, said President Donald Trump appeared to be reconsidering Katie Zacharia’s appointment. A senior White House official said Zacharia was “transitioning out” of the role after a troubled first week.
Trump told reporters he had called Zacharia a “nice person” and suggested she reconsider staying. She began the job on Monday, gave a 14-minute briefing the following day that drew criticism, and faced questions about her record and credentials; reporting cited in the article said she had failed the California bar exam. Jennings, who met White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to discuss the position, was passed over for Zacharia the previous Friday.
- Zacharia is reportedly leaving the press secretary role.
- Trump suggested she reconsider staying.
- Scott Jennings is seen as a possible successor.
New here? Start with this
The White House press secretary is the president’s main public spokesperson, answering reporters’ questions and explaining the administration’s actions. The role can be high profile because briefings are a regular point of contact between the White House and the news media.
Scott Jennings is a political commentator and radio host who has been discussed as a possible candidate for the job. He met White House chief of staff Susie Wiles about the position, but Katie Zacharia was chosen instead; questions about her experience and first briefing have since drawn attention to how the administration selects its spokesperson.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A White House press secretary needs to communicate clearly under intense scrutiny, and critics could reasonably see the briefing and unanswered questions about Zacharia’s credentials as signs she was not yet prepared for the role. On this view, reconsidering the appointment quickly protects the administration’s credibility and ensures the spokesperson can meet the job’s demands.
The case against
A short, difficult first week does not necessarily show that Zacharia could not grow into the role, and a brief tenure may offer too little evidence for a fair judgement. Keeping her would avoid treating criticism or a reported exam failure as decisive measures of her ability, and would give the administration a chance to assess her performance over time.
Full account
Katie Zacharia is leaving the White House press secretary’s post after a brief and troubled start. White House communications director Steven Cheung said on Friday that she would move into another role, to be announced later. President Donald Trump had already signalled a change when reporters asked about her future as he left the White House for a rally in Georgia. He described Zacharia as a nice person but said he had suggested that she reconsider staying in the job. The reports describe a tenure of about five days, during which she gave one press briefing.
The appointment had been announced the previous Friday, but questions about Zacharia’s performance and qualifications soon overshadowed it. Her first briefing lasted 14 minutes and drew criticism for its brevity and substance. Attention then turned to how her legal background had been presented. The reports say she had attended law school but had failed the California bar examination. Zacharia said that a pregnancy, followed by the demands of raising four children, had kept her from taking it again. She also said she expected to live in China after law school and did not think the result would matter to her plans.
Zacharia sought to address the scrutiny in interviews with conservative media. On Thursday, Fox News host Sean Hannity pressed her about both the briefing and her legal credentials. She faced further questions on Fox & Friends on Friday. The second report says she met Trump later that day expecting a difficult conversation, after which Cheung confirmed her move. It also attributes a leading role in the decision to chief of staff Susie Wiles, while noting that Cheung had publicly defended Zacharia’s work only days earlier. That account of the internal decision-making comes from the report; the official statement confirmed the change of role without explaining who initiated it.
Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator and Salem Radio Network host who has been discussed as a possible successor, relayed Trump’s remarks to his radio audience on Friday. He agreed with the president’s description of Zacharia as a nice person, acknowledged that the week had been difficult and said the comments suggested Trump was reconsidering his choice of press secretary. Jennings did not announce his own candidacy or an appointment. The first report says he had previously discussed the job with Wiles and notes that his past ties to Senator Mitch McConnell could count against him with some Trump allies. For now, the White House has confirmed Zacharia’s departure from the press secretary’s role but has not named a replacement.
Where outlets differ
The first report places Zacharia’s 14-minute briefing on Tuesday; the second places it on Monday. Both say it was her only briefing.
The first report centres on Jennings’ on-air reaction and his prospects for the job. The second focuses on Zacharia’s short tenure and attributes the decision to remove her to Susie Wiles.
The second report compares Zacharia’s roughly five days in the post with Anthony Scaramucci’s 11 days. That comparison needs qualification: Scaramucci served as White House communications director, not press secretary.
More coverage
- Daily Mail — 'Susie Wiles gave the kill order': Brutal inside story of Katie Zacharia's firing and how Trump's Ice Maiden laid primetime 'trap' to snare disaster press secretary… as TV star frontrunner to replace her is revealed
- Daily Mail — Katie Zacharia releases first statement since White House firing after disastrous first week