Katie Zacharia was terminated Friday after five days as White House press secretary, following a sudden request from senior adviser Jason Miller to meet Vice President JD Vance.
Zacharia, a lawyer who had never passed a U.S. bar exam, was appointed on May 13, 2026, after a brief tenure that included a lackluster first briefing. The Wall Street Journal had scheduled an interview with her earlier that day, but the meeting was interrupted when Miller knocked on her office door.
President Donald Trump, who had spoken to Zacharia earlier that day at his helipad, said he would "reconsider" her role and that the decision was not a reflection on her performance. Miller explained that "JD wanted a quick chat," and the dismissal was made on the spot.
The White House has announced that Zacharia will serve in an undisclosed role, leaving the press secretary position vacant until a replacement is named. Reporters in the Roosevelt Room said they had to step in to brief the press, underscoring the administration’s scramble to maintain a coherent media strategy.