What is Katie Zaria's fate after being ousted from the White House?

Katie Zaria left her position as White House Press Secretary after only 5 days of taking on the duties, according to two senior administration officials, another administration official, and a source familiar with the decision.

A senior administration official stated that Katie Zaria would move to a new role to be announced at a later time, as reported by NBC News.

In a statement issued Friday evening, Katie Zaria expressed her gratitude to President Donald Trump, saying: "It has been an honor for me to work for him."

She added: "President Trump is a good, wonderful, generous, considerate, enthusiastic, and extremely hardworking man; I wish more Americans appreciated him for what he truly is."

Katie continued: "No one will ever come close to achieving America's greatness the way he did, and still does."

Zaria's dismissal came following her first press conference, which was met with widespread criticism, along with revelations that she had introduced herself as a lawyer despite not passing the bar exam.

Zaria left her position exactly as she took it up—with extreme speed. Trump's decision to promote her—from a host in conservative media to a high-level position in the White House—was surprising.

Trump had announced Zaria's appointment to replace former spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Friday, and she delivered her first briefing Tuesday morning, immediately after a 3-day weekend.

Her sudden departure will leave a pivotal position vacant in the White House communications team, less than 3 weeks before midterm elections, at a time when Trump publicly complained that his administration and party are suffering due to poor public relations.

Trump told supporters during a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, this month: "Our country has never been in a better position than it is now. But we cannot get our message across because of 'fake news'... We are doing a great job running the country, but we are not doing well on public relations."

However, after Zaria's departure, two sources familiar with the president's thinking told the same network on Friday that it is highly unlikely Trump will choose a new press secretary anytime soon.

Earlier on Friday, Trump said he would leave it to Zaria to decide whether to stay in the press secretary role, after suggesting she had been treated harshly by the media during her first week on the job.

It is worth noting that Katie Zaria had succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left her White House position at the end of August/Ab, having held the role since the beginning of Trump's term in January/Kanun al-Thani 2025.