Katie Zakaria left after the first and only press briefing, while questions arose regarding her professional qualifications and whether she had presented herself as a lawyer without holding the necessary license.
Katie Zakaria’s tenure as White House press secretary lasted less than a week; according to three people familiar with the situation, Donald Trump’s new press secretary was removed from her post on Friday. The move came after a series of reports questioning her professional qualifications, raising questions about the circumstances under which she had been selected for one of the most high-profile positions in the U.S. presidency.
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Katie Zakaria admitted that she never passed the bar exam
Zakaria had held her first official briefing for White House-accredited reporters on Tuesday, not realizing at the time that it would also be her last. In the days that followed, she faced media reports regarding her professional background and, in particular, her status as a lawyer, which the U.S. president himself had cited when he publicly referred to her.
According to the published reports, Zakaria had not passed the exams required to obtain a law license. This raised questions about whether she had accurately presented her qualifications.
It should be noted, however, that failing these specific exams does not in and of itself mean that someone has made a false statement. The issue concerns how she presented her professional status and whether that description corresponded to her actual qualifications.
Trump’s Intervention and the Discussion Before Her Resignation
Of particular interest is the reaction of Donald Trump, who, speaking to reporters on Friday, revealed that he had personally advised Zakaria to reconsider her decision to take the position.
“Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I’d think twice about it,” the U.S. president said, recounting the content of their conversation.
Trump continued, saying, “Katie, do you really need this? I don’t think you need it.” His wording leaves open the question of whether the dismissal had been decided by the White House or whether there had been a prior discussion about the possibility of a voluntary resignation. The information cited in the report suggests a dismissal, though there has been no official announcement so far to clarify the circumstances.
The White House did not respond to reporters’ requests for comment, and Zacharia herself maintained a similar stance. The absence of an official statement leaves unanswered questions about who made the final decision, when the press secretary was informed, and whether the issue of her professional qualifications was the decisive factor in her dismissal.
Earlier, speaking to FOX News and reflecting on her first (and, as it turned out, last) week as White House press secretary, she noted that President Trump “has a lot of energy and is fighting to save America.” However, when she was asked the… controversial question about whether she should have disclosed to the U.S. president that she had not passed the bar exam, Zakaria replied that she was hired for the position of White House press secretary, not as an advisor.
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The Background of the Controversy Over Her Law Degree
Zakaria graduated in 2011 from Pepperdine University School of Law in California. As she stated in an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, she took the bar exam but failed and did not attempt to retake it.
She claimed that at that time she had already decided to move to China with her husband and, consequently, did not consider obtaining a U.S. law license to be essential. In Beijing, according to the professional history she has provided, she worked for the law firm Zhong Lun. This professional experience, however, does not in and of itself equate to a license to practice law in the United States.
The issue took on political dimensions when Donald Trump referred to her as a “lawyer.” The difference between holding a law degree and the professional certification required to practice law in the U.S. became the focus of public debate. In the U.S. system, graduating from an accredited law school does not automatically qualify one to practice law, as it requires the successful completion of the required bar exams and admission to the relevant bar association.
Questions about her selection for the White House
The position of White House press secretary carries significant political and institutional weight. This is the person who is called upon to publicly present and defend the decisions of the U.S. presidency, answer questions from accredited journalists, and manage the administration’s daily communication with the U.S. and international media.
The departure of an individual from this position within a matter of days raises questions about the process for selecting and vetting the qualifications of officials who assume public duties.
Zakaria’s case takes on added significance because doubts about her qualifications arose almost simultaneously with the start of her tenure. Her first briefing with reporters did not mark the beginning of a period of adjustment to her new position, but rather her only public appearance as a spokesperson for the U.S. presidency.
It remains unclear who will replace her and whether the White House will issue an official explanation for her departure.
It also remains unclear whether the decision is linked exclusively to the public controversy surrounding her professional qualifications or whether other disagreements regarding her tenure in the position had preceded it.
According to the information available so far, Zakaria is stepping down after having held only one official press briefing.
The fact that the president himself publicly admitted that he had advised her to reconsider taking on the role adds another layer to the story, though it does not answer the fundamental question: why a choice for such an important position in the communications apparatus of the U.S. presidency was reversed in less than a week.
The new White House press secretary, Katie Zakaria, needed just 13 minutes during her first briefing on Tuesday morning (U.S. time) to praise Donald Trump, answer questions from just three reporters, make the important announcement regarding the future of the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Gilfoyle, and to provide an unexpectedly humorous moment when she confused her husband with the president.
Zakaria, who succeeded Caroline Levitt, appeared particularly enthusiastic as she took the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. Her voice occasionally betrayed her nervousness, but she kept smiling and made sure to convey her main message clearly: she had wanted to work for Trump for a very long time. “I’ve wanted to work for him for a very, very long time,” she said, thanking the U.S. president for his trust.
However, those who were expecting an extensive initial discussion between the new press secretary and the White House correspondents were disappointed and found themselves facing a particularly brief proceedings.
Most of the briefing was devoted to prepared remarks on what Zakaria presented as the administration’s achievements, ranging from wages and prescription drug prices to energy production, foreign investment, manufacturing, and border security. “President Trump is fighting and delivering results for American workers every minute, every day,” she said.
With just three weeks left until the midterm elections, Zakaria also spoke at length about Trump’s campaign rallies, citing record turnout and growing enthusiasm among Republican voters.
Only three journalists were given the floor
. When she finished her opening remarks and began taking questions, Zakaria gave the floor to just three journalists: Nick Gilbertson of Breitbart News, Peter Dousi of Fox News, and Elina Shirazi of the Daily Mail.
The selection was interesting not only because of the media outlets they represented, but also because of the way the process unfolded. Zakaria called on the journalists directly by name, rather than allowing questions from the entire audience.
Gilbertson was the first to speak; he was seated in the section reserved for new media outlets. After praising Levitt for her decision to open the press briefing room to journalists beyond the traditional news media, he asked whether the new press secretary intended to continue the same practice.
“My predecessor, Caroline Levitt, did an amazing job. We will definitely maintain and expand it as much as possible. We love new media and want to embrace it,” she replied.
When asked whether Trump’s campaign schedule would intensify in the run-up to the election, she replied without hesitation: “Absolutely, expect even more intensive campaign appearances,” and added that Kentucky, along with Georgia and Florida, has been included in the president’s upcoming travel schedule.
The most substantive question about Zakaria’s new role came from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy.
Dussie pointed out that the new press secretary is taking office just three weeks before the midterm elections, which Trump himself has described as difficult for Republicans.
“Is your job simply to talk about White House issues, or to make things less difficult for Republicans in the midterms?” he asked her.
Zakaria did not make a clear distinction between the two roles. “Well, Peter, I have the opportunity to do what I was already doing outside the White House, namely, to try to promote, strengthen, and expand President Trump’s incredible agenda for the American people,” she replied. As she explained, her goal is to communicate the administration’s achievements more effectively, working closely with a president who, as she said, “is his own best spokesperson.”
Dousi then moved on to a more direct foreign policy question, asking whether the U.S. had stopped sharing information with Ukraine. “I’ll have to get back to you on that,” Zakaria limited herself to replying.
The Important Announcement Regarding Kimberly Gilfoyle
The most significant news of the briefing came from a question posed by Daily Mail reporter Elina Sirazi, regarding the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Gilfoyle.
Trump had stated the previous day that he was considering her removal, amid reports raising questions about her conduct while performing her duties.
Sirazi asked whether the administration had settled on a specific timeline for her potential dismissal and whether potential replacements were already being considered.
Zakaria’s response was brief but particularly significant. “We have asked Ambassador Gilfoyle to resign. She has been an extremely valuable member of the team, and we wish her every success,” she said.
For Zakaria, this was an unusually significant announcement during her first appearance, which otherwise focused on highlighting the government’s achievements.
“My president… sorry, my husband.”
The questions then took on a more personal tone.
Sirazi noted that Zakaria is the mother of four children and that her family had been living in California until recently. She asked her how she plans to meet the demands of her new position while raising a large family. She also asked if Levitt, who had stepped down from her position to spend more time with her family, had given her any advice.
Zakaria became noticeably more emotional. “Well, first of all, I want to say a huge thank you to my husband,” she began.
She explained that she has four children, ages 12, 10, 8, and 6, three of whom are boys. “I adore my family. I love them. They’re my priority,” she said, emphasizing how important it is to her to spend her evenings with her children.
That’s when she briefly stepped away from the formal tone of the briefing.
“My president… excuse me, my husband,” Zakaria said, immediately correcting herself. “That was a good one,” she added, commenting on her slip of the tongue.
Regaining her composure, she explained that her husband had brought all four of their children to Washington for the week, as the family was celebrating two birthdays.
“It’s very important to us to celebrate birthdays together as a family,” she said, adding that the family plans to move to Washington.
Referring again to her predecessor, she said that Levitt had been a great support to her and had given her advice on how to handle the demands of the position.
She acknowledged, however, that this particular job makes it difficult to maintain a conventional work-life balance. “I don’t think this is a job where you can necessarily maintain a balance,” she said.
She then found yet another opportunity to praise Trump. “President Trump is the most family-friendly president we’ve ever had,” she said, adding that the fact that Trump chose her for the position, knowing that she has four children and that the duties would be particularly demanding, demonstrates his confidence in her ability to fulfill her responsibilities.
Trump’s departure for Alaska brought the press conference
to a close. Just as the discussion had turned to her personal life, Zakaria decided to abruptly wrap up the proceedings.
“Actually, I’m going to wrap it up here, because President Trump is heading to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska, and we can ask him all our questions out there,” she said.
The U.S. president was preparing to depart the White House for Joint Base Andrews, where he would board Air Force One to travel to Alaska and attend yet another campaign rally.
As Zakaria was preparing to leave, reporters continued to try to ask additional questions, including whether Trump had spoken personally with Gilfoyle about her departure.
The new press secretary, however, had already begun to wrap up the briefing. Thus, her first appearance at the White House podium ended almost as quickly as it had begun.
Source: Protothema
