Half a Scaramucci: White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Ousted After One Briefing

On Friday, President Donald Trump's Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was dismissed from her role just five days after taking over the position. This rapid exit contrasted with Trump's previous press secretary, Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired after 11 days in 2017. Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left the administration in August.

The White House confirmed Zacharia's departure hours after she urged her to consider her position following a rocky first week. Zacharia, a conservative political pundit, made her first press conference on Monday, facing intense scrutiny. She previously worked for Fox News, Newsmax, and the Department of Homeland Security. However, reports questioned her legal credentials, as she did not pass the California bar exam, although she did take the test.

Her first press conference lasted only 14 minutes, with questions from just three outlets. Despite her limited engagement with reporters, Zacharia aimed to amplify the president's agenda. Her dismissal came after a mix-up where she claimed she had passed the bar exam in China, later clarifying that she had indeed taken the test but failed.