Inside Susie Wiles’ alleged role in Katie Zacharia’s downfall as Scott Jennings emerges as replacement frontrunner
WASHINGTON, DC: White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is facing claims that she played a behind-the-scenes role in Katie Zacharia’s rapid fall as press secretary, with administration sources alleging that her Fox News interviews were part of a wider effort to push her out.
Zacharia's tenure ended Friday, October 16, just five days after she began work as White House press secretary and one week after Trump announced her appointment. Trump-friendly CNN contributor Scott Jennings has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace her.
The allegations come after Zacharia faced tough questions about her legal credentials during interviews with Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Lawrence Jones.
Susie Wiles accused of arranging Fox News ‘kill order’ against Katie Zacharia
According to a Daily Mail report, Wiles, who has been nicknamed Trump’s “ice maiden,” was allegedly involved in the events that led to Zacharia’s departure.
The report said Wiles had been bypassed when President Donald Trump selected Zacharia for the role.
As questions mounted over Zacharia’s credentials, the new press secretary appeared on Fox News in an apparent attempt to address the growing criticism.
However, her Thursday night interview with Hannity turned difficult when he challenged her over her first White House press briefing and her legal background.
Hannity told Zacharia that her first briefing had been “widely panned.” He also questioned her about failing to pass the bar exam.
“I knew I would be living in China and the result of the bar would be inconsequential,” Zacharia said during the interview, explaining her decision in the context of her move to Beijing from 2011 to 2013 with her husband.
Sources close to Zacharia said she was particularly hurt by the exchange because she had considered Hannity an ally.
😮 Katie Zacharia crashes and burns on [checks notes] Hannity 😮 If you had the "over" on Zacharia lasting more than one Scaramucci, her epic flame out on Hannity just now won't help your cause HANNITY: You said you consulted with people who advised you it was okay to call yourself a lawyer but not an attorney, correct? ZACHARIA: Correct HANNITY: There's a report out tonight showing 15 social media posts where you identify yourself as an attorney ZACHARIA: I think they were retweets Here's the whole interview:
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2026
She returned to Fox News on Friday morning for an interview with 'Fox & Friends,' where co-host Lawrence Jones immediately asked, “Do you wish you would have disclosed to the president about not passing the bar?”
A senior administration official alleged that Wiles had arranged the tough treatment, telling the Daily Mail, “Susie gave Fox News the kill order, but Zacharia was an obviously bad choice. This was totally predictable.”
Another senior administration official claimed that someone at the White House had set Zacharia up during the Hannity interview, adding that only Wiles or Trump could have made such a call.
However, Fox News insiders rejected the idea of a “kill order,” arguing that Zacharia’s own performance during the interview had contributed to her downfall.
Katie Zacharia’s 5-day tenure ends amid questions over her credentials
Zacharia’s time as White House press secretary lasted just five days, even shorter than Anthony Scaramucci’s 11-day tenure as White House communications director during Trump’s first administration.
Zacharia's tenure ended Friday, October 16, just five days after she began work as White House press secretary and one week after Trump announced her appointment.
Trump had personally selected Zacharia, a former communications adviser at his media company.
But her first press briefing, which lasted just 14 minutes, quickly drew criticism, with questions raised about her qualifications and past.
Despite the growing concerns, Trump initially defended her performance, describing the briefing as “excellent” on Tuesday.
By Friday, however, the situation had changed. According to the report, Trump had privately told officials that Zacharia “had no talent and shouldn’t be on television.”
The president later publicly described their conversation in gentler terms.
“I told her, ‘I think you’re better off being happy.’ And I’m not sure you can ever be happy in this job,” Trump told reporters. “I want her to have a good life.”
After their meeting, White House communications director Steven Cheung announced that Zacharia would be “transitioning into a new role that will be announced at a later date.”
Cheung had previously praised her performance, saying that “up and down the White House, everyone has been thoroughly impressed with Katie in just a few short days on the job.” He had also dismissed negative reports as “trash.”
On Wednesday, he wrote that she would be remembered as “one of the all-time greats.”
Scott Jennings reportedly among candidates to replace Katie Zacharia
With Zacharia’s future as press secretary in doubt, attention has reportedly turned to Scott Jennings as a possible successor.
Wiles is said to be considering Jennings, a Trump-friendly CNN contributor who has become known for representing conservative views on the network.
According to the report, a former Trump official confirmed that Jennings had emerged as the frontrunner for the position.
Jennings did not comment on the report, while Zacharia did not respond to requests for comment.
