Baba UmarWashington DC — She was visibly nervous. She relied heavily on notes. She took deep breaths. And veteran White House reporters found themselves witnessing a "briefest briefing" ever.
However, when Katie Zacharia delivered her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, she conveyed the US administration's key points and broke significant news during a high-pressure debut.
Taking the custom podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room — a small theater in the West Wing of the White House — for roughly 14–15 minutes, including an eight-minute prepared opening statement, Zacharia began her briefing by stating that she was "honoured to work for" US President Donald Trump "and the American people", thanking the US president "for the trust that he has placed in me."
She highlighted Trump's recent Ohio rally, his "America First" priorities of "lower taxes, higher wages, and one of my favourites, secure borders."
Zacharia said Trump is planning to hold rallies in Alaska, Arizona, Montana and Georgia, "building off of the incredible momentum generated over the last several days from his stops in Tennessee, New York, Texas, and Nebraska."
"He is an energetic president. Attendance is at record highs as enthusiastic, hard-working Americans are lining up and packing arenas to support President Trump and Republicans," she added.
Zacharia, tapped by Trump to replace Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August to spend more time with her two young children, claimed that US real wages rose by up to 2 percent under Trump administeration, but fell nearly 4 per cent under former president Joe Biden.
President Trump is the first president in modern history to actually lower prescription drug prices, delivering the biggest drop in 63 years, she added.
"Trump has created more than 1 million private sector jobs in his second term, including nearly 112,000 factory construction jobs and 72,000 manufacturing jobs this year alone," she added.
Zacharia highlighted US energy expansion, major investments, and security initiatives under Trump administration, saying "this is a president, an administration that is looking out for you, the American people, and I’m thrilled to officially be part of this incredible journey together."
Guilfoyle resignation
Zacharia, a conservative commentator, a lawyer and former communications adviser to Trump's media company, however, gave reporters a big news on Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece.
"We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign," Trump's new press secretary told reporters. "She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well."
The announcement came a day after Trump confirmed he was considering dismissing Guilfoyle, a former television host and the ex-fiancee of Donald Trump Jr.
Guilfoyle has come under scrutiny following media reports regarding her financial dealings and ties with wealthy business figures.
According to US media reports, she asked a prominent Trump supporter Eric Deters to settle $100,000 in credit card debt ahead of her July 2025 Senate hearing.
Reports citing messages and recordings reveal Guilfoyle boasted of luxury trips and hotel stays funded by wealthy Greek business figures.
The State Department is reportedly investigating whether Guilfoyle received improper gifts.
Zacharia's disclosure regarding Guilfoyle's status was one of only three questions she addressed from reporters – Nick Gilbertson of Breitbart, Peter Doocy of Fox News, and Alina Shirazi of the Daily Mail.
She said her job was to amplify and expand Trump's agenda, describing the US leader as "his own best spokesperson." She also did not answer whether US will stop intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
During remarks concerning her family, the California mother of four momentarily misspoke, stating, "my president — excuse me, my husband… That’s a good one", which drew laughter from the room before she regained her composure and continued.
Comparisons with Karoline Leavitt
Audible gasps were heard as she ended the briefing, citing Trump's departure on Marine One to Alaska to take no further questions.
"I've now been covering the White House for nearly four years — and that was without a doubt the shortest briefing I've ever attended. By a wide, wide margin," noted journalist Bernd Debusmann Jr.
A White House official interviewed by MS NOW's Jake Traylor immediately stated that Zacharia better improve — and quickly.
"Getting behind the podium is tough, but she got off on the wrong foot. She needs to get much better, fast, otherwise she’ll break Scaramucci’s record,” the unnamed official told Traylor.
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci served for just 10 days during Trump's first term in 2017.
Zacharia's first press briefing lasted roughly 15 minutes, taking questions from just three reporters for five minutes, noted NBC News' White House correspondent Monica Alba.
"By comparison, Karoline Leavitt’s first briefing lasted around 47 minutes and she took questions from 20 different reporters."
Zacharia's supervisor, however, described her debut briefing as a "tremendous start".
"A tremendous start for the new White House press secretary," said Steven Cheung, White House director of communications.
"She commanded the room and effectively reminded the American people of all the great work President Trump and his Administration has done thus far."
Debut briefings are rarely easy, and the litmus test will come in subsequent briefings. Meanwhile, Zacharia must now build rapport with a White House press corps accustomed to combative exchanges, fast-paced political shifts, and a president who, she herself described, as "his own best spokesperson."
