DONALD Trump’s new White House press secretary stumbled through her debut briefing, struggling with a question about Ukraine before revealing that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign.
Katie Zacharia, who replaced Karoline Leavitt, faced the White House press corps for the first time but offered few detailed answers during the unusually short session.
The new spokeswoman faced reporters in Washington DC on Tuesday, wrapping up her first briefing in just 14 minutes after taking questions from only three journalists.
Zacharia, who replaced Karoline Leavitt, struggled to give a clear answer when pressed about the administration’s position on Ukraine.
She was asked whether the US has stopped sharing intel with Ukraine.
“I’ll have to get back to you on that,” Zacharia told the reporters.
Karoline Leavitt gives her verdict on her replacement as White House press sec
Who is Katie Zacharia? New press secretary is mom of four with film exec husband
During the briefing, Zacharia also confirmed that the White House had asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., to resign.
“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia told reporters.
“She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”
Her comment came a day after Trump revealed he was still mulling whether to fire Guilfoyle amid allegations of improper conduct.
Most read in The US Sun
Parents arrested after 9 siblings ‘placed in cages’ found in ‘appalling’ home
US choppers blow up spy boat after mine sinks container ship carrying iPhones
Pope’s brother – who also has cancer – says Leo’s disease ‘caught early’
Lawmakers push for new $200 shopping cart fines at Wegmans, Aldi, and more
“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
“Yeah, we’re not happy.”
Guilfoyle has faced scrutiny after Republican donor Eric Deters alleged that she asked him to pay off a $100,000 American Express bill ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing last year.
Deters also claimed she offered him access to senior Trump administration officials in exchange for financial support.
Separate allegations have emerged about improper gifts and luxury travel during her time as ambassador to Greece.
Guilfoyle’s lawyers have disputed the allegations surrounding the financial transactions, maintaining that payments were linked to previous speaking engagements.
The White House has not publicly disclosed the specific reason for requesting her resignation, and it was not immediately clear whether she had formally stepped down.
Zacharia also suffered an embarrassing slip of the tongue when she accidentally referred to Trump as her husband during the briefing.
The mother of four was asked how she planned to balance her demanding new role with her husband and children living in California.
She explained that her entire family would be moving to Washington DC, so she could continue spending evenings with her kids.
“This idea of not spending evenings with my kids is completely unacceptable, so my president … uh excuse me, my husband is out here …” Zacharia said.
Realizing her mistake, she laughed it off, joking, “That’s a good one.”
The briefing was cut short after just a few questions because of Trump’s scheduled travel.
Zacharia’s brief appearance came just a day after she was pictured standing alongside Trump as he spoke to reporters before departing for a midterm campaign rally in Ohio.
She was also pictured alongside Trump’s executive assistant, Natalie Harp, a familiar figure in his inner circle.
The briefing marked the return of a permanent press secretary to the podium after several weeks without one following Leavitt’s departure in August.
Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment on October 9, praising her long-standing loyalty to him and his MAGA movement.
“It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.”
The president also described her as a devoted supporter of his political movement.
On Sunday, Trump confirmed that Zacharia would officially begin her role on Columbus Day, October 12.
“Katie has been with me, in spirit, from the very beginning, and will do a fantastic job!” he wrote.
Zacharia, 41, is an attorney and conservative television commentator who previously served as a senior communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social.
She also worked briefly as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security during former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure.
Before that, she held roles in Republican politics and regularly appeared on Fox News and Newsmax to defend Trump’s policies.
A graduate of Pepperdine University’s law school, Zacharia is married to film producer Tyler Zacharia and has four children.
She takes over from Leavitt, who left the White House at the end of August after giving birth to her second child earlier this year.
Leavitt, 29, became the youngest White House press secretary in history when she took the position at 27 in January 2025.
She had previously served as Trump’s national press secretary during his successful 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump praised Leavitt’s work when announcing her departure, saying she would remain an outside adviser and influential Republican voice.
She is also due to join Fox News as an on-air contributor beginning November 1.
Zacharia’s appointment ends a weeks-long period without a permanent press secretary at the White House podium.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
