'Got Sacked After 5 Days': Netizens Tell Katie Zacharia She Lives in a 'Delusion' Over Donald Trump

Katie Zacharia's five‑day spell as White House press secretary has ended with a storm of criticism online, after she publicly praised Donald Trump as 'kind' and 'wonderful' in her first statement since leaving the role.

'President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to,' Zacharia wrote on X. 'It was an honour to work for him.'

The post on Friday included a photograph of Zacharia standing beside Trump in the Oval Office. She did not address her departure or the questions around her professional credentials.

Katie Zacharia's Praise for Trump Sparks Online Backlash

The response to Zacharia's statement was swift. Several users challenged her characterisation of Trump and questioned how her brief time in the administration could be described as an honour.

'Well, we can't all live in your delusion about who Trump is. But best of luck to you,' one user wrote on X.

Another questioned the circumstances of her departure, commenting, 'Got sacked after 5 days, where is the honour in that?'

A third took issue with one particular adjective in Zacharia's tribute. Quoting her line, 'President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man,' the user then added, 'Thoughtful is not an adjective describing Trump.'

The comments highlight the divide between Trump's supporters and critics. They also show how Zacharia's public endorsement has become part of the story surrounding her short spell in the White House.

Her statement offered no explanation for what had happened behind the scenes. Instead, it presented her departure and her admiration for Trump as separate matters.

Inside Katie Zacharia's Five-Day Tenure

For context, Zacharia entered the White House press operation without previous government communications experience, according to the supplied report. A cable news commentator, she was reportedly hired after a phone call with Trump and a meeting in the Oval Office, where he offered her the position.

After her appointment, Zacharia told Fox News, 'I got a wonderful phone call from the chief talent recruiter, the president himself, and it turns out that being a huge supporter of all of his policies actually works.'

Her first press briefing on Tuesday proved difficult. She could not say whether the United States had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, a question concerning a significant aspect of American foreign policy.

According to the supplied report, the briefing's only personnel announcement was that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign as ambassador to Greece.

'I think I'm one of the first press secretaries to deliver staff changes for the administration,' Zacharia said afterwards. 'And I was honored that President Trump trusted me delivering that information.'

According to the supplied report, her performance reportedly prompted criticism from within the administration. One Trump adviser asked, 'What the f— is happening over there?' Another questioned whether anyone had properly vetted her.

A senior administration official quoted in the report was equally blunt. 'Some people have it and some people do not,' the official said. 'She does not. She couldn't command the room.'

Questions Over Katie Zacharia's Legal Credentials

The scrutiny was not limited to her briefing. Zacharia's use of the title 'lawyer' also attracted attention after The Wall Street Journal reported that she had failed the bar exam.

Zacharia subsequently confirmed that she had not passed, saying she had been told she could describe herself as a 'lawyer' but not an 'attorney.'

The distinction added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding her appointment, although the supplied reporting does not establish that the credentials issue directly caused her departure.

Steven Cheung, described as White House communications director in the supplied reporting, defended Zacharia.

'All of this breathless speculation is just that, speculation. And it's fiction that's not even creative,' Cheung said. 'The fact is that Katie took on a very important job, and she will continue to support the President as she transitions to a new role. She is an amazing teammate and tremendous talent.'

Trump also addressed the departure on Friday, describing a conversation in which he encouraged Zacharia to reconsider the position.

'I said, "Is this for you, Katie?" Because honestly, you don't need this,' he said.

He added: 'Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider.'

Zacharia's new role was not specified in the supplied report. Her public message, meanwhile, left the central question of why she left after five days unanswered.