Former press secretary Katie Zacharia faces backlash over altered Oval Office photos

Former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is facing scrutiny after posting online photographs of herself with President Donald Trump that may have displayed sensitive information. The Daily Mail and The Washington Post reported that Zacharia shared a farewell post containing a photo with a blurred map on the president's desk, followed by a second photo where the map was removed. [1][4]

The Daily Mail reported that Zacharia assumed the position of White House press secretary on Monday but was asked to resign on Friday. Her resignation followed a difficult first press briefing and reports that she failed the bar exam despite referring to herself as an attorney. The New York Times also reported that she was ousted after five days in the role. [1][10]

During an interview with a conservative commentator on Thursday, Zacharia claimed that China does not have proper toilets, according to the South China Morning Post. Yahoo News UK and The Independent reported that China subsequently extended an open invitation for Zacharia to visit the country. [2][3][6]

Kate Sharon Zacharia served as the 37th White House press secretary in October 2026. Her five-day tenure makes her the shortest-serving press secretary in United States history. Donald Trump serves as the 47th president of the United States. [12][13]