Karoline Leavitt breaks silence on Katie Zacharia's exit as press secretary: 'This job was not for her'

WASHINGTON,DC: Karoline Leavitt has addressed Katie Zacharia’s sudden departure from the White House press secretary role, revealing that she is helping President Donald Trump consider candidates for the vacant position.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 22, Leavitt offered a candid assessment of the demanding job after Zacharia's brief five-day stint. 

A day earlier, Leavitt had also shared how Trump defended her appointment despite warnings from others that she was too young for the position.

Leavitt weighs in on Zacharia's exit

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Leavitt confirmed that she had offered Trump assistance in finding his next press secretary. 

She acknowledged that the position requires extensive preparation and that a candidate's suitability may not become clear until they face reporters publicly.

Leavitt drew on her own experience in the role, which she held for almost two years, to explain why selecting the right person matters. 

She described the job as one of the toughest assignments in politics, noting that its demands can be difficult to anticipate before someone actually takes the podium.

“We wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well,” Leavitt said.

She added that Trump was still reviewing potential candidates and that interest in the position remained considerable. 

When asked what guidance she had given the president, Leavitt declined to disclose their private conversations.

“I'll keep my private counsel to the president private, but I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well”, Leavitt said. 

She did, however, outline the qualities she believes the next spokesperson will need. According to Leavitt, Trump understands the media better than anyone and needs someone who is tough, intelligent, familiar with his policies, loyal and prepared to defend his administration publicly.

Katie Zacharia’s brief stint in the position drew scrutiny after her first White House briefing prompted questions about her performance. Controversy over her unsuccessful California bar exam attempt added to the attention surrounding her appointment. 

Trump was urged not to hire Leavitt

Leavitt spoke about her own appointment a day before discussing Zacharia's departure. 

At the Make Heaven Crowded Tour in Manchester, New Hampshire, on October 21, she recalled how Trump responded when others questioned whether she was ready to become White House press secretary because of her age.

According to Leavitt, Trump told her that several people had urged him not to give her the job on the grounds that she was too young.

He nevertheless chose to appoint her, drawing a comparison with his own early career.

“When President Trump offered me the position, he said, ‘Karoline, a lot of people have called me and told me not to give you this job because you're too young, but I told them when I was your age, I was building buildings in Manhattan and you can do it,’” she recalled.

Leavitt shared the video clip on social media with a message expressing gratitude to Trump for giving her what she called the professional opportunity of a lifetime.