George Santos slams Sean Hannity after heavy-handed interview with outgoing Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, then offers to do her job
Just saying…
George Santos has publicly offered to step into the role of White House press secretary following the departure of Katie Zacharia. The former congressman shared his interest in the position on Friday, October 16, 2026. He posted his pitch on X. According to The Hill, he stated, “Hey I’m not technically open for a job because I have one already…. butttttttt… I’d jump to serve POTUS as press secretary in a heart beat. Just saying.”
This announcement arrived shortly after a White House official confirmed that Zacharia was leaving the role. Her departure happened on Friday, October 11, at 2.00 p.m. President Trump had reportedly advised her to reconsider her position. Zacharia served as the press secretary for only five days. This duration marks a new record for the shortest tenure in that position.
Zacharia’s brief time in the role was marked by intense public scrutiny. She faced a difficult initial press conference where she appeared visibly nervous. The briefing lasted less than 15 minutes. She took questions from only three reporters during that time. Critics also focused on her legal background. She presented herself as a lawyer on television despite not passing the bar exam.
Hannity grilled Zacharia about her credentials during an interview
On Thursday, Fox News host Sean Hannity pressed Zacharia on why she claimed to be an attorney without a license. He noted that he found 15 social media posts where she identified as an attorney. Zacharia responded by suggesting those posts were retweets of titles given to her by others. She claimed she corrected the record.
Hannity questioned her about the perception of her first briefing. He labeled the event as widely panned. He also asked if she felt her staff failed to prepare her. Zacharia did not provide a direct answer. She instead pivoted to announce that the administration asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. Guilfoyle served as the former Ambassador to Greece.
The interview grew tense as Hannity continued his line of questioning. He suggested that people do not see a distinction between a lawyer and an attorney and urged Zacharia to simply explain her education at Pepperdine Law School. He noted that she chose a different career path than practicing law.
Hannity then told her, “Look, that is a very tough room, and I’ve known a lot of press secretaries over the years. Following on the heels of Karoline Leavitt is very tough, and speaking for Donald Trump makes everything tougher. Why not just say, I went to Pepperdine Law School and chose a different career path? Why get into this long, drawn-out definition between the difference between a lawyer and an attorney? Because I don’t think many people see much of a distinction.”
Santos reacted to this interview with anger toward the host
Santos posted a blunt message on X. He wrote, “F— you @seanhannity! You think you are untouchable and like to sit high on your horse and judged people.” He continued the criticism on Friday evening, asking his followers to unfollow him if they watched Hannity. He wrote, “I refuse to associate with people who think that the self-righteous pig known as Sean Hannity is the standard or barometer for anything in society.”
This conflict adds to a long history between the two men. Hannity previously interviewed Santos after his release from federal prison. The host pressed him on whether he would repay the money he stole from victims. Santos offered an apology during that interview. He did not make a promise to pay back the funds.
The former congressman remains a controversial figure in politics. He was expelled from Congress in 2023. A court convicted him on multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. President Trump commuted his sentence last October. This occurred after the former lawmaker served three months in prison.
His post-congressional life has seen further challenges. He received a lifetime ban from the prediction market Kalshi in August. This ban followed his lack of cooperation during an investigation. The investigation concerned wagers he placed on the platform regarding the State of the Union address.
Zacharia’s ouster highlights the high pressure of the White House press room
Zacharia defended her performance during the interview with Hannity. She stated she was asked to start on Monday, which was Columbus Day. She then had to hold a briefing on Tuesday morning. The 42-year-old claimed she stepped up to the plate with very little prep time. She also pushed back on claims that she only took questions from conservative outlets. She even pointed to the Daily Mail as an example of a non-conservative outlet.
It seems the White House is now searching for a replacement for the role. Santos has clearly positioned himself as an eager candidate. His recent outburst at Hannity suggests he remains active in media debates. The administration has not commented on his offer to serve. The vacancy leaves the press office in a state of transition. All eyes are on how the President fills this high-profile position.
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