Katie Zacharia is all praises for Trump after being fired from her role: ‘I wish more Americans appreciated him’
‘An honor to work for him.’
Katie Zacharia has officially stepped down from her role as White House press secretary after a tenure that lasted only five days. She broke her silence regarding the departure by sharing a public statement on X that was filled with praise for President Donald Trump. The former press secretary posted a photo of herself alongside the president to accompany her message.
According to UNILAD, Zacharia wrote, “President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to.” She also added, “It was an honor to work for him.” The exit of the 42-year-old followed a suggestion from the president that she consider leaving the position.
Trump spoke to reporters on the White House lawn on October 16, 2026, while he was departing for a rally in Georgia. He explained that he told Zacharia she might want to change her mind about the job. He claimed he thought she had been treated unfairly by the press. The president said, “I told her, ‘I think you’re better off being happy’.” He also noted, “I said, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider’. I said, ‘You think about it, but I would reconsider’.”
Zacharia was originally brought on to replace Karoline Leavitt
Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had resigned at the end of August to focus on her family after an 18-month run. Zacharia faced immediate scrutiny during her first press conference earlier in the week. The briefing lasted only 14 minutes. She later defended the performance by stating she “never had a full briefing beforehand.”
Public reaction to her departure has been split. Some users on X offered support. One person wrote, “Don’t listen to the noise Katie. I think you did great.” Another user suggested, “We are all wishing you the best. Ignore the haters!” A different supporter sent well wishes and said, “Katie, I apologize for all the amoeba that attacked you. There are so many unhappy people in this world the only place they find happiness is in negativity. I wish you the best.”
Other observers were more critical of her brief stint in the high-profile office. Some questioned how she could describe the five-day period as an honor. One commenter wrote, “5 days and you still calling it an honor, loyalty is something else I guess.” Another person joked, “My high school internship at the grocery store lasted longer than your press secretary career.”
The lead-up to Zacharia’s firing included a tense interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News
Reports suggest that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles helped arrange the appearance. According to The Independent, one unnamed source told Politico that the prime-time interview was “sanctioned hit” on the embattled official. During the segment, Hannity questioned Zacharia about her legal background. He specifically asked if she had failed to pass the bar exam despite attending Pepperdine Law School. Zacharia confirmed this was correct.
The White House has pushed back against claims that Wiles orchestrated the exit. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated, “All of this breathless speculation is just that— speculation. And it’s fiction that’s not even creative.” A senior official also argued that the chief of staff did not need to involve herself in the firing. This official noted, “Susie and Sean do talk, but Susie did not need to feed her to Sean or anybody else. It’s not her style.”
Fox News also denied that the administration influenced the booking. TMZ stated that a network spokesperson stated, “Sean Hannity decides who he interviews and what he asks his guests, period. That’s been true for three decades, through several administrations, and that authenticity is why he’s been number one for nearly 30 years. Susie Wiles and Danielle Alvarez had nothing to do with the booking.”
Some insiders believe Zacharia sealed her own fate during her initial press briefing
The former White House Press Secretary reportedly took only three questions and made a notable mistake by referring to her husband as “my president.” A network insider said, “It was clear by the end of this week that she did herself in with her own performance. If you can’t answer simple questions about your credentials, that speaks volumes.”
It currently remains unclear who will take over the role of press secretary following the departure of Zacharia. Meanwhile, rumors regarding the job security of Susie Wiles have been dismissed by the president. He recently confirmed that Wiles has his complete confidence and that there is zero chance he will replace his chief of staff. He called her his loyal and longest-serving advisor.
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