Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has spoken out after President Donald Trump dismissed her replacement, Katie Zacharia, less than one week into the job. Zacharia was appointed on Monday, October 12, but faced backlash after just one briefing and mounting questions over her qualifications. Trump sacked her on Friday, October 16.
Leavitt, who served as press secretary for almost two years, said the role is one of the hardest in politics. Speaking with FOX News Digital's Paul Steinhauser, she stated, "Well, look, White House Press Secretary is a tough job. I know that because I did it, obviously, for almost two years. And many people say it's one of the hardest jobs in politics."
Leavitt Offers to Help Trump Find a Replacement
Leavitt said she offered to help Trump select "someone who can serve him and the country well." She noted the job "takes a lot of preparation" and "sometimes you don't know how someone will perform until they go out there."
Wishing her successor the best, Leavitt said, "So, look, as the president said, we wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well." She added that she knows the president is "continuing to look over options."
Advice to the President
Asked what advice she would give Trump if he asked, Leavitt was coy: "Well, I'll keep my private counsel to the President private." She added, "But I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well. Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump."
Leavitt said the president needs someone who "is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal, and who can go out there and put up a fight." She continued, "There's a lot of qualified people who can have it. It's just up to the president to make that decision."
Trump's Remarks on Zacharia's Departure
Last week, Trump said he had asked Zacharia to "reconsider" her role, telling reporters, "Katie's been treated very badly by the media. Very, very badly. Very unfairly, I think. And I just spoke to her about it. I said, 'Katie, is this for you?'" He added, "Because, you know, she's been treated very rough. And she's a nice person. Very nice person. I've watched her on television for years. But I said, 'Is this for you, Katie?' You don't need this. You don't have to be treated. I would say the fake news, but just generally, the media has been very rough."
The White House, when asked by The Mirror US for comment, pointed to a tweet reading, "A senior White House official tells @pdoocy Katie ZACHARIA is 'transitioning out' of the press secretary position." Zacharia announced her departure in a post on X, writing, "President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to. It was an honour to work for him."
