White House press secretary Zakharia out less than a week after appointment, outlets say
In short
Katie Zakharia has left the post of White House press secretary less than a week after her appointment was announced, Russian outlets reported on 16 October. The New York Times, citing three sources, said she was fired, while the White House told RIA Novosti she is being moved to another position. President Donald Trump said earlier that day that he had told her he would reconsider in her place.
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Katie Zakharia has left the post of White House press secretary less than a week after taking it, according to Russian outlets summarising US media reports on 16 October. RBC, Meduza and Interfax relayed the New York Times report, citing three people familiar with the situation, that she was fired on Friday. Meduza and RIA Novosti spell her surname Zakaria. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The accounts differ on how she left. RIA Novosti reported that the White House told it Zakharia is being moved from the press secretary post. Interfax said Fox News also reported her departure but did not speak of a firing, saying she is gradually leaving. Meduza said Fox News wrote that her dismissal is expected, and that a senior Trump adviser told Axios he expects her to leave within days. Bloomberg, cited by Vedomosti, said she left on Friday and that it is unclear whether she will take another position in the White House or in Trump's circle. The White House did not answer Meduza's request for comment. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Earlier on Friday Trump spoke to reporters. As quoted by Kommersant, he said he had told her: Katie, you do not have to do this, and frankly, in her place he would change his mind. He said the media had been unfair to her. Vedomosti, citing Bloomberg, said he nonetheless suggested the job might not suit her, and that asked whether he would force her out, he replied that she should make that decision herself. Kommersant quoted him as saying that when he returns they will talk. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Meduza and Kommersant said the White House announced the appointment on 9 October, while Interfax gave 10 October. Interfax said she had worked as a communications adviser at the company that owns Truth Social and, earlier in 2026, spent several months at the US Department of Homeland Security handling media relations. Her first briefing came on 13 October, per Meduza, and lasted just over 15 minutes, with questions from three journalists. RIA Novosti put the length at 14 minutes. Interfax dated the briefing to Tuesday, while RIA Novosti said Monday. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
US media criticised the briefing, and questions arose over her credentials. Trump had called her a lawyer, and Meduza said she presented herself as one on Fox News. Journalists could not confirm that she had passed the licensing exam, and Meduza said she later admitted she had not. Vedomosti, citing Bloomberg, also reported that she made a disparaging remark about China in a conversation with a conservative commentator. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Zakharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left in August; Interfax said Leavitt cited a wish to spend more time with her family. Bloomberg compared the episode with the dismissal of communications director Anthony Scaramucci after 11 days, and noted that the exit comes a little over two weeks before the November midterm elections. RIA Novosti later reported that Trump is in no hurry to name a new press secretary. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The documents describe the exit as unusually fast even by the standards of Trump's White House, per Bloomberg. It comes a little over two weeks before the November midterm elections to Congress, and it is not yet clear who will succeed her.
Key facts
- Trump announced Katie Zakharia as White House press secretary on 9 October, according to Kommersant and Meduza; Interfax gives 10 October. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
- The New York Times reported, citing three people familiar with the matter, that Zakharia was fired on Friday. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- The White House told RIA Novosti that Zakharia is being moved from the post of press secretary. [ 4 ]
- Her first briefing was criticised by US media, and questions arose over whether she held a law licence. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Trump told reporters that in her place he would reconsider, and said she had been treated unfairly by the media. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that Trump is in no hurry to name a new White House press secretary. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Zakharia left or is leaving the post of White House press secretary less than a week after her appointment was announced. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The White House told RIA Novosti that Zakharia is being moved from the press secretary post. [ 4 ]
- Trump told reporters he had advised Zakharia to reconsider, saying that in her place he would change his mind, and described the media treatment of her as unfair. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Journalists could not confirm that Zakharia passed a law licence exam, although Trump called her a lawyer. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Zakharia was fired or moved to another position. The New York Times, via three sources, says she was fired; the White House told RIA Novosti she is being transferred; Fox News says she is gradually leaving without speaking of a firing.
- Whether she will take another post in the White House or in Trump's circle. Bloomberg, citing sources, says this is unclear.
- The date of her first briefing. Meduza gives 13 October and RIA Novosti says it was on Monday, while Interfax says it was on Tuesday.
- The date of her appointment. Kommersant and Meduza say 9 October; Interfax says 10 October.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kommersant reports that Trump suggested Zakharia might move to another post, citing his remarks to reporters. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports, citing the New York Times, that the White House fired the new press secretary. [ 2 ]
- Meduza reports the New York Times claim, with Fox News calling the departure expected and Axios quoting a senior Trump adviser who expects her to leave within days. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that the White House said Zakharia is being moved from the post. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reports Bloomberg's account, citing sources, that she left the post on Friday. [ 5 ]
- Interfax summarises the New York Times and Fox News reports. [ 6 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Trump is in no hurry to appoint a new press secretary. [ 7 ]