Zacharia’s halting Tuesday press conference performance, combined with those questions about her legal background, essentially sealed her fate.
And subsequent press appearances, including a less-than-welcoming interview with conservative pundit Sean Hannity on Thursday – which Trump said he watched – did nothing to change that.
As president, Trump has essentially acted as his own press secretary, making major announcements and changing policies from the Oval Office, the White House lawn, airfield tarmacs – wherever he happens to be.
Zacharia herself noted this phenomenon prior to being tabbed for the White House job. “President Trump does not need a spokesperson,” she posted on X. “He is his own best press secretary.”
Now, he will have to be.
Trump’s penchant for speaking off the cuff, however, has made the job a difficult one over the course of his two terms in office.
His press secretaries have sometimes had their public statements undermined by presidential pronouncements. At other times, they’ve been left out of the loop of key decisions.
When they have been effective, they have managed to ride the choppier waves while also smoothing relations with the media – providing context for inquisitive journalists and helping tamp down any simmering issues.
In comments to Fox News on Friday, Trump said that he is in “no rush” to find a new press secretary. But at such a critical time in his second term, Trump will be without the help that someone like Leavitt offered so consistently.
He may come to regret not having it.
