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Jimmy Kimmel has wasted no time in poking fun at Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary after her disastrous first briefing.
Days after being named as Karoline Leavitt’s successor, Katie Zacharia stood behind the lectern for the first time on Tuesday, rattling off a series of prepared remarks before taking just three press questions. She made several blunders along the way, including one notable moment in which she was talking about her family and tripped over her words, saying, “My president — sorry, my husband.”
Zacharia’s performance was widely criticized, including by Kimmel.
“It was the first day of kindergarten for the new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia,” Kimmel said during Tuesday night’s show. “You know, Trump’s been president for quite a long time now. I think it’s been about what 50-60 years? And in order to keep him awake and interested, every six months they bring in a new fawning blonde dolt to add to the rotation.”
He continued: “Things did not get off to a great start for Malibu Katie today. Her first briefing was brief. It was only 14 minutes long, but even in that short time, she accomplished exactly what she was brought in to do, which is slobber a whole tube of lip gloss all over the president’s behind.”
Jimmy Kimmel has roasted new press secretary Katie Zacharia after her disastrous first briefing (Getty)
After playing a clip of Zacharia’s remarks in which she read hesitantly and looked down at her script, Kimmel laughed: “Her reading is good for an 11 year-old. He hired a fourth grader to be press secretary.”
Zacharia was working at Trump’s social media company until she was hand-picked by the president to become the new press secretary. She was announced as Trump’s pick October 9 and held her first briefing just days later.
Approached for comment, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung told The Independent: “Katie is a fabulous and wonderful addition to the team. She is uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as Press Secretary.”
Zacharia’s inaugural press briefing wasn’t the only political news of the day Kimmel tackled Tuesday night.
‘She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago,’ Trump said of . ‘She went to Greece, she was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading’ (Getty)
After the new press secretary’s announcement that U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has been asked to resign — following an explosive report alleging she pleaded with a Trump donor to pay off her six-figure credit card bill — Trump brushed off Guilfoyle’s proximity to his family, despite the fact that she was engaged to his son, Don Jr., for several years.
“No, she wasn’t a member of my family. She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago,” Trump told reporters after the press briefing. Guilfoyle and Don Jr. began dating in 2018 and were engaged by 2020, though they broke up some time around 2024.
Responding to Trump, Kimmel said: “Not only did she date your son for six years, they were engaged to be married.
“They broke up two years ago, and you sent her to Greece to get rid of her. Poor Kimberly Guilfoyle. You know, she’s the first woman ever to get dumped by Donald Trump Jr. and Donald Trump. She got the double Trump dump, and that’s got to hurt.”