Katie Zacharia defends Trump after he says she ‘freaked out’ during first briefing

WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has responded after President Donald Trump revisited her brief time in the role, saying she “freaked out” when reporters questioned her during her first briefing. Zacharia defended her loyalty to Trump and praised his work for the Republican Party in a statement to Newsweek on Friday, October 23.

“It was an honor to work for President Trump, and no one has been more relentlessly attacked by the media than him,” Zacharia said. She also added, “The best is yet to come.”

Her response came after Trump spoke about her five-day tenure while campaigning for Republican candidates in Florida.

Katie Zacharia responds after Trump says she ‘freaked out’

Trump revisited Zacharia’s first and only White House press briefing while discussing her departure. Referring to the questions she faced from journalists, he said, “No wonder that poor young woman - she was a perfect, beautiful woman - when she walked into that press room and they started screaming at her, she freaked out.”

Zacharia responded by expressing her support for Trump and describing what she witnessed during her week working for him. She said the president worked “around the clock” and praised his efforts on behalf of the Republican Party and his administration’s agenda.

Her statement did not directly address the criticism surrounding her briefing. Instead, she highlighted her experience working alongside Trump during his midterm campaign efforts and reiterated her support for his political goals.

Katie Zacharia praises Trump's work during her brief White House stint

Zacharia also referred to a line from British writer Rudyard Kipling while describing her time with the president.

“As Rudyard Kipling wrote, ‘If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch.’ After a week with him on the midterm blitz, I saw that in action: working around the clock with world leaders - bringing hostages home and brokering peace - while speaking to crowds of Americans to win the midterms and deliver for the people,” she said.

She further praised Trump’s long-standing role in the Republican Party, saying, “No one has carried the water for the Republican Party and America First like he has for over a decade, all without losing the common touch.”

Katie Zacharia's five-day White House tenure ended after a turbulent briefing

Zacharia was officially appointed White House press secretary on October 12, following Karoline Leavitt’s departure from the role earlier in the year. Her tenure ended on October 16, making her the shortest-serving permanent White House press secretary in history.

Her first briefing, held on October 13, drew attention after several exchanges with journalists. Reporters questioned her legal credentials, including her background in law and claims about passing a bar examination.

Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school but did not pass the California bar exam, according to the supplied report. The questions surrounding her qualifications added to the scrutiny she faced during her brief time in the role.

Trump had previously defended Zacharia against criticism from reporters, saying the media had treated her unfairly. He also revealed that he had encouraged her to reconsider whether the demanding position was right for her.

“I just asked her, ‘Is this for you?’” Trump said, explaining that he had told her he would reconsider the role if he were in her position.

Following her departure, Zacharia publicly thanked Trump for giving her the opportunity to serve and made clear that she remained supportive of his administration.

“Answering the president's call to serve was an honor,” she said.