Karoline Leavitt defended Katie Zacharia after the former White House press secretary was dismissed only five days into the role, describing the position as a “very tough job” during an appearance with Bill Maher.
Leavitt, who held the post before Zacharia, discussed the firing on Maher’s programme, Real Time With Bill Maher. She said some people considered the press secretary’s position “one of the hardest jobs in Washington”.
She also praised Zacharia for taking on the role, noting that “only 37 people in history have been the White House Press Secretary”.
Leavitt then said President Donald Trump had decided Zacharia was not a good fit and that it was therefore time to appoint a new press secretary.
Maher compared the abrupt dismissal with a baseball player being removed soon after taking the field, arguing that such a short tenure was unusual.
In response, Leavitt referred to Trump’s former television programme, The Apprentice, saying he had been known for “moving on from people” and firing contestants on national television.
Leavitt served as White House press secretary from January 2025 to August 2026, becoming the youngest person to hold the post at the age of 27. She said she left the position to spend more time with her family and her two young children.
Trump appointed Zacharia in October, but she was removed after what the report described as a poor performance at her first press conference, making her the shortest-serving White House press secretary.
