# Katie Zacharia's five-day tenure ends shortest press secretary run

> Katie Zacharia lasted five days as White House press secretary before resigning amid questions about her legal credentials.
- Title: Katie Zacharia's five-day tenure ends shortest press…
- Summary: Katie Zacharia lasted five days as White House press secretary before resigning amid questions about her legal credentials. Katie Zacharia became the…
- Keywords: katie zacharia, white house press secretary, donald trump, bar exam, legal credentials, business, technology, Katie, Zacharia's, five-day, tenure, ends
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/katie-zacharia-shortest-serving-press-secretary-who-are-others-2026-10
- Author: Tristin Hoffman
- Published: 2026-10-16T23:55:26.981+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: katie zacharia, white house press secretary, donald trump, bar exam, legal credentials, business, technology
## Five days and out
Katie Zacharia made her White House press briefing debut on Tuesday as President Donald Trump's press secretary. By Friday, the White House confirmed she was out.
## Questions over legal credentials
Shortly after her Tuesday briefing, Zacharia was asked which state she passed the bar exam in. She replied: When I moved to China.

> When I moved to China.
## She failed the bar exam
On Thursday, Zacharia told right-wing provocateur Jack Posobiec she took the bar exam but failed and never retook it. She had moved to China after earning her law degree in two thousand eleven.
## Watchdog groups file complaints
Two watchdog groups filed complaints with the State Bar of California on Wednesday, asking it to investigate whether Zacharia violated California law by calling herself a lawyer.
## Shortest tenure in history
Zacharia served as press secretary between October twelve and October sixteen. The record five-day tenure is the shortest in White House history.
## Other short-serving press secretaries
Only four press secretaries have lasted under two months.Stephen Early served fourteen days under Harry S.Truman in December nineteen fifty.Jerald TerHorst served thirty-one days under Gerald Ford.Jonathan Daniels served forty-eight days under Franklin D.
## Key takeaway

Katie Zacharia became the shortest-serving White House press secretary in history after five days, following scrutiny over claims she was a lawyer.