‘Fighter or a marshmallow’: Katie Zacharia posts cryptic message after 5-day press secretary stint
WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has shared a cryptic message about being a fighter alongside a picture of herself with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather aboard Air Force One.
The 41-year-old posted the picture on Instagram after leaving President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday, October 16, following just five days in the role.
“You can either be a fighter or a marshmallow,” Zacharia captioned the picture, in which she stood beside Mayweather, 49, aboard the presidential aircraft.
She did not explain what the message meant or whether it was directed at her critics following her abrupt departure.
Katie Zacharia posts cryptic fighter message after White House exit
Zacharia’s latest post comes after her brief tenure as Trump’s top spokesperson ended amid scrutiny over her first press briefing and professional qualifications.
She replaced Karoline Leavitt but lasted only five days, making her the shortest-serving White House press secretary in history, according to the report.
Her first briefing took place on Tuesday, October 13, and lasted 14 minutes.
During the session, she answered questions from just three reporters, and her handling of the briefing drew criticism.
Questions also arose about her legal qualifications after Trump introduced her as a lawyer when announcing her appointment. Zacharia had not passed the California bar exam, a fact she acknowledged during an appearance on Fox News.
She said she had failed the exam in 2011 and had not retaken it.
She defended her background by pointing to her degree from Pepperdine University and her previous work involving international transactions.
Trump weighs in on Katie Zacharia’s sudden departure
On Friday, October 16, Trump publicly suggested that Zacharia reconsider staying in the demanding position.
Speaking to reporters, he said he did not want her to continue suffering under the pressure of media scrutiny.
“I don’t think Katie should be made to suffer like she’s suffering at the hands of the press,” Trump said.
He also suggested that the pressure might mean the job was not right for her. Hours later, White House officials confirmed that Zacharia was “transitioning out” of the role.
Despite the sudden end to her tenure, Zacharia praised Trump in a social media post after leaving the administration. She described him as kind and gracious and said she was honored to have worked for him.
Before joining the White House, Zacharia had worked for Trump Media and briefly served as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.
Floyd Mayweather’s legal troubles draw renewed attention
Mayweather’s presence in the picture adds another familiar name to Zacharia’s post.
The former five-division world champion retired from professional boxing with an unbeaten 50-0 record and is widely known by his nickname, Money.
However, his career outside the ring has also attracted attention because of legal and financial controversies.
In 2012, Mayweather served approximately two months in jail after pleading guilty in a domestic violence case involving the mother of his children. He had also faced battery convictions in 2004.
More recently, he was charged with two felonies in Las Vegas over allegations involving a $200,000 check used to purchase a luxury watch.
The report also noted an IRS tax lien of more than $7.2 million linked to unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2023.
