Keti Zakariya left the office, saying he was the president

U.S. President Donald Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zakaria, resigned five days after being appointed to the position. One.uz reports.

Her brief tenure became the center of criticism following her unsuccessful first briefing and questions regarding her legal qualifications. The New York Times reported on this.

Zakaria was appointed press secretary on October 9, 2026. Prior to this, she had worked as a commentator known for her conservative views.

Her first and only briefing at the White House took place on October 13. During the 14-minute briefing, Zakaria read a prepared statement for approximately eight minutes and answered only three questions from journalists.

During her remarks, while speaking about her husband, she mistakenly said “my president” and immediately corrected herself. This incident subsequently sparked discussions about her professional competence.

Although Trump introduced Zakaria as a lawyer, she admitted that she had not passed the bar exam required to practice law in the United States. Zakaria has a background in law but does not hold a U.S. law license.

Her public appearances following her first briefing also drew criticism. On October 15, Trump stated in a conversation with journalists that he advised Zakaria to reconsider staying in the position.

“Honestly, if I were in your position, I would reconsider. Katie, do you want this job?

I don’t think you do,” said the U.S. President. On October 16, The New York Times reported that Zakaria had been removed from her position.

A White House administration spokesperson indicated that she might be transferred to another role. On her social media page, Zakaria emphasized that working for Trump was an honor and expressed her gratitude to the president.

Her tenure as press secretary lasted only five days, making it one of the shortest in the history of White House press secretaries.