With the White House briefing-room podium left vacant again following Katie Zacharia’s departure after five days as press secretary, attention has turned to who might replace her.
Conservative commentator and part-time adviser to President Donald Trump Laura Loomer put herself forward as a potential candidate hours after news of Zacharia’s departure broke.
“Hear me out: Press Secretary Laura Loomer,” she posted on X Friday.
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Several of the names now being discussed were also floated during the lengthy search to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who left the role in August.
CNN reported at the time that Scott Jennings had emerged as an early favorite, and that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had met with the conservative CNN commentator at the White House’s request. The outlet reported that several other candidates had also attracted interest, though the White House pushed back on suggestions that a decision had been made.
Trump himself publicly floated Jennings as a possible successor to Leavitt in August, telling reporters, “Scott Jennings is good.” He also suggested Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and White House communications adviser, asking reporters: “Maybe Margo? What do you think of Margo?”
At the time, Trump said he had received considerable interest in the position, telling reporters: “I have never had so many job applications in my entire life.”
Anna Kelly, the White House principal deputy press secretary, was also widely discussed as a possible successor. Other names floated included White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and conservative author and model Elizabeth Pipko.
Other names floated during the earlier search included Trump aide Taylor Rogers, former Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Miller and former Trump lawyer Alina Habba.
Trump ultimately chose Zacharia on October 9 after weeks of speculation over who would succeed Leavitt.
Prediction market Kalshi on Friday had Kelly as its leading contender, alongside Jennings and Pipko.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment on who will replace Zacharia.
Why Katie Zacharia Left the White House
Zacharia’s departure came just five days after she took over the role and three days after her first White House press briefing.
Trump publicly raised questions about Zacharia’s future on Friday, telling reporters that he had encouraged her to reconsider whether the job was right for her.
“I just asked her, ‘Is this for you?’” Trump said. “And she’s a nice person. I’m going to let her make that decision.”
Trump repeatedly blamed Zacharia’s treatment by the media, saying she had been treated “very, very unfairly” and was being “brutalized by the media.”
“I told her, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I would reconsider,’” Trump said. “Maybe it’s not for her.”
A White House official confirmed to Newsweek on Friday that Zacharia was “transitioning” out of the role, while CNN reported, citing advisers to the president, that Trump had fired her.
Zacharia Faced Scrutiny During Brief Tenure
Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment on October 9, praising her as a longtime supporter with an “unblemished record of support” and predicting that she would “work fantastically with the Media, the American People, and my Administration.”
Zacharia succeeded Leavitt, who stepped down as press secretary at the end of August after the birth of her second child, citing the demands of the job and her desire to spend more time with her family.
Zacharia made her debut behind the White House podium on Tuesday. The briefing lasted about 14 minutes and included questions from three outlets, prompting criticism over its brevity, her delivery and her reliance on prepared remarks.
The White House initially defended Zacharia. Communications Director Steven Cheung told Newsweek following the briefing that she was “uniquely qualified and whip smart” and would “do an incredible job as Press Secretary.”
Zacharia also defended her performance, telling Newsweek: “I am grateful to serve President Trump as Press Secretary, and I will diligently and effectively amplify his successful agenda.”
Her legal background subsequently came under scrutiny after Trump had referred to her as an attorney when announcing her appointment. Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011 but did not pass the California bar exam.
The State Bar of California told Newsweek that it had no record of Zacharia being licensed to practice law in the state under either her married or maiden name.
Zacharia confirmed during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday that she had taken the California bar exam once and had not passed. She said the result was “inconsequential” because she knew she would be moving to China, where she later worked for Zhong Lun Law Firm.
Trump addressed the controversy Friday, saying he was not upset that Zacharia had not disclosed that she did not pass the exam.
“Well, I wasn’t hiring her to be a lawyer,” Trump said. “I would say it probably wouldn’t have mattered. She’s been loyal to me since day one for a long time, but it’s not an easy job.”