CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Another major change has emerged in US President Donald Trump’s White House administration. Newly appointed press secretary Katie Zakaria had to leave the post just five days after taking charge. According to reports that surfaced on October 16, 2026, Zakaria is now moving out of the role. Her appointment was announced on October 9, and she had replaced former press secretary Caroline Leavitt.
Questions were raised over Zakaria’s failure in the bar examination during her brief tenure, with controversy emerging around her legal qualifications and professional background. She studied law at Pepperdine University in California. However, she acknowledged that she could not pass the US bar examination and did not take it again. In the United States, merely obtaining a law degree does not automatically make a person a licensed lawyer. For that, it is necessary to complete the bar examination and licensing process of the relevant state. The issue came into focus after questions were raised about Zakaria’s legal experience and the way she presented herself as a lawyer.
Zakaria’s first official press briefing was also discussed widely. It was held on October 13, lasted about 14 minutes and saw her take questions from three journalists. During the briefing, some media commentators criticised her responses and presentation. This increased pressure in the early days of her short tenure.
Although Trump initially praised her briefing, he later said publicly that he had advised Zakaria to reconsider the role. According to Trump, she was being troubled by media criticism and he wanted Zakaria to be happy. He also indicated that he was not in a hurry to immediately appoint a new press secretary.
What happens next at the White House? With Zakaria leaving the post, the White House will now have to look for a new spokesperson. The change has come at a time when midterm elections in the United States are approaching and the Trump administration is trying to communicate its functioning and policies to the public. For now, no clear official information has emerged about Zakaria’s next role. Her brief tenure has ended amid questions over legal qualifications and criticism of her first press briefing.
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