White House press secretary Zakaria to leave after five days amid law licence row
In short
White House press secretary Katie Zakaria is leaving the post five days after taking it on 12 October, following criticism that she was introduced as an attorney without holding a US law licence. Asahi Shimbun reported, citing multiple US media, that she was dismissed on 16 October, while TBS said a White House official told JNN she will step down. She had also drawn attention for remarks about China.
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White House press secretary Katie Zakaria is leaving her post. Asahi Shimbun reported on 17 October, citing multiple US media, that the Trump administration dismissed her on 16 October, the fifth day after she took office on 12 October. TBS reported that a White House official told JNN on 16 October that she will step down, and described the move as effectively a dismissal. [ 3 , 4 ]
Before leaving for Georgia on 16 October, Trump spoke to reporters at the White House, Asahi reported. He said he had told her she would be better off being happy and that he did not want her to live as she had in the previous three days. He defended her as having been treated unfairly by the media, but said he would reconsider if he were in her position, thereby recommending that she leave. He said he would talk with her when he returned. [ 3 ]
The dispute centred on her legal credentials. According to Asahi, Trump announced her appointment on 9 October and introduced her as an attorney, and she described herself as a lawyer. Multiple US media then reported that they could find no record of her obtaining a US law licence. Bloomberg's report, carried by TBS, said she acknowledged on 15 October that she had not passed the California bar examination. Asahi said she told Fox News that she took the California bar examination, failed it and has never held a US law licence. [ 1 , 3 ]
Zakaria also drew attention for remarks about China. In an interview on 15 October with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, according to Bloomberg, she said that when she had just returned from China she wondered how China could become the next great power when it did not even have decent toilets. Sankei, citing Kyodo, said she made the comment on a video channel of a conservative outlet while recalling the 2016 presidential election, and that the Chinese side may object. [ 1 , 2 ]
Bloomberg noted that Zakaria graduated from Pepperdine University law school in California in 2011, then moved to China with her husband and worked at a major Beijing law firm. It said her China remarks contrasted with Trump's unusually friendly stance toward Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders have already visited each other this year and agreed to meet twice more before the end of the year. Bloomberg also said her first press conference drew doubts about her suitability because she read her script haltingly and took questions from only three reporters. Bloomberg reported that the White House defended her, with its communications director saying she was exceptionally suited to the job and very sharp. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The departure follows a dispute over the new press secretary's professional background and her remarks about China. Bloomberg, in a report carried by TBS, said the China remarks stood in contrast to President Trump's friendly stance toward Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Key facts
- Zakaria took up the post of White House press secretary on 12 October and her departure came on the fifth day, Asahi Shimbun reported. [ 3 ]
- Asahi reported, citing multiple US media, that the Trump administration dismissed Zakaria on 16 October. [ 3 ]
- A White House official told JNN on 16 October that Zakaria will step down, TBS reported. [ 4 ]
- Zakaria admitted on 15 October that she has not passed the California bar examination, although Trump had introduced her as an attorney when announcing her appointment. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On 15 October Zakaria said that when she had just returned from China she wondered how China could be the next great power when it did not even have decent toilets. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Zakaria lived in China and worked at a major Beijing law firm after graduating from Pepperdine University law school in 2011, Bloomberg reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Zakaria is leaving her post as White House press secretary, according to a White House official speaking to JNN and to reports by multiple US media cited by Asahi. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Zakaria admitted on 15 October that she has not passed a state bar examination in California, after Trump had introduced her as an attorney. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Zakaria said on 15 October that she had wondered how China could be the next great power when it did not even have decent toilets. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Zakaria was formally dismissed or resigned. Asahi, citing US media, says she was dismissed, while TBS says a White House official said she will step down and calls it effectively a dismissal. Asahi's headline also refers to reports that she was already dismissed after Trump hinted at it.
- Whether China will react to the remarks. Sankei, citing Kyodo, said the Chinese side may object, but none of the documents reports a reaction.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes Bloomberg's report of 16 October on Zakaria's remarks about China and her admission about the bar examination. [ 1 ]
- Sankei Shimbun publishes a Kyodo report of 16 October on her remarks about China made in a video channel appearance on 15 October. [ 2 ]
- Asahi Shimbun publishes its report of 17 October that the administration dismissed Zakaria on 16 October. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes its report of 17 October that a White House official told JNN on 16 October that Zakaria will step down. [ 4 ]