Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has offered a candid assessment of Katie Zacharia's extraordinarily brief time in the role, just days after President Donald Trump's latest spokesperson left the position.
Zacharia spent only five days as White House press secretary, making her the shortest-serving person to hold the position in American history.
Her departure followed a difficult first week that included a widely discussed debut press briefing and questions about her suitability for one of Washington's most demanding communications jobs.
Now, Leavitt has spoken publicly about her successor's departure and revealed that she is helping Trump consider potential replacements.
What did Karoline Leavitt say about Katie Zacharia?
Leavitt suggested that Zacharia was not suited to the position, telling Fox News Digital: "The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well."
The former press secretary made the remark during an interview published on October 22, 2026.
Leavitt explained that representing the president requires extensive preparation and that a candidate's ability to handle the pressure is not always apparent before they begin.
She described the White House press secretary position as one of the most difficult jobs in American politics.
Although her comments were critical of Zacharia's suitability, Leavitt also expressed goodwill towards her former successor.
Her remarks followed Zacharia's departure after an unusually short tenure that attracted considerable media attention.
Why did Katie Zacharia leave after five days?
Zacharia's appointment was announced in early October, with her first official press briefing taking place on October 13.
However, the briefing quickly attracted criticism.
The appearance lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which Zacharia read prepared remarks and took questions from only three journalists.
One awkward moment occurred when she appeared to accidentally refer to her husband as her president before correcting herself.
She also faced questions about her legal qualifications after reports examined whether she had passed a US bar examination.
These incidents became part of the wider scrutiny surrounding her appointment.
President Trump subsequently told reporters that he had encouraged Zacharia to reconsider whether she wanted to remain in the role.
He also suggested that she had been treated harshly by the press.
Her departure was confirmed on October 16, just five days after she began serving.
What did Donald Trump say about her departure?
Trump publicly acknowledged having a conversation with Zacharia about whether she should continue in the position.
According to reporting on his remarks, the president said he had advised her to reconsider the job because of the scrutiny she was experiencing.
His comments came amid growing attention surrounding her first press briefing and questions about her professional background.
While some reports described Zacharia as having been dismissed, Trump presented his conversation with her as an opportunity to reconsider the role.
The White House subsequently confirmed that she would not continue as press secretary.
Karoline Leavitt offers to help Trump find a replacement
Leavitt has also revealed that she is advising Trump as he considers who should become the next White House press secretary.
She told Fox News Digital that she had offered to help identify someone capable of representing both the president and the country.
Although she declined to disclose details of her private conversations with Trump, she explained the qualities she believes the next press secretary will need.
According to Leavitt, the successful candidate must understand the president's policies, demonstrate loyalty and be prepared to handle challenging questions from journalists.
She also suggested that there is no shortage of people interested in the position.
However, the final decision will rest with Trump.
Who could replace Katie Zacharia?
Several potential candidates have been discussed following Zacharia's departure, although no new appointment had been confirmed as of October 23.
Anna Kelly
Anna Kelly is the White House principal deputy press secretary and previously worked under Leavitt.
Her experience within the administration has made her one of the names mentioned in reporting about the vacancy.
Kelly also worked as a spokesperson during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Scott Jennings
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.
Jennings is known for his television appearances discussing American politics and has written a book about Trump's political career.
Reports have suggested that his name was previously considered when Trump was searching for Leavitt's successor.
Elizabeth Pipko
Elizabeth Pipko, a former Republican National Committee spokesperson, has also been discussed as a possible contender.
She previously worked on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and has maintained a public profile in Republican politics.
However, speculation about these candidates should not be mistaken for confirmation that Trump has offered any of them the position.
What did Katie Zacharia say after leaving the White House?
Following her departure, Zacharia published a statement on X praising President Trump.
She described him in strongly positive terms and said she had been honoured to work for him.
Her message did not publicly criticise the president over her short tenure.
The statement contrasted with the controversy surrounding her appointment and departure, which had generated extensive media coverage.
Zacharia had previously worked as a communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social.
She also had experience as a political commentator before joining the White House.
Why did Karoline Leavitt leave the role?
Leavitt served as Trump's White House press secretary from January 2025 until August 2026.
She became the youngest person to hold the position when she was appointed at the beginning of Trump's second term.
After giving birth to her second child, Leavitt decided to step away from the demanding role to spend more time with her family.
She has since explained that she is focusing on life at home with her husband and two young children.
Leavitt is also scheduled to begin working as a Fox News contributor in November.
Despite leaving the administration, she has maintained contact with Trump and remains willing to provide advice on the press secretary appointment.
When will Trump announce his next press secretary?
No confirmed announcement date has been provided.
Reporting has suggested that a permanent replacement may not be selected until after the November 2026 midterm elections.
In the meantime, the White House must continue communicating the administration's policies and responding to questions from journalists.
For Trump, the decision will involve choosing someone who can manage daily press briefings, explain administration decisions and withstand intense public scrutiny.
Leavitt's comments underline how demanding she believes the position to be, while Zacharia's five-day tenure demonstrates how quickly an appointment can come under pressure.
Whether the next press secretary comes from within the existing White House communications team or from outside the administration remains to be seen.
Sources: Fox News Digital, October 22, 2026; UNILAD, October 23, 2026; CBS News; The Independent; and public statements by Donald Trump and Katie Zacharia.
