Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is weighing in on Katie Zacharia’s short-lived tenure as her successor behind the podium, telling Fox News Digital that the high-stakes role simply wasn’t the right fit.
Reporter Paul Steinhauser asked Leavitt directly whether the president made the right call in choosing her successor. Leavitt responded by pointing to the intense demands of one of the most scrutinized positions in Washington.
“Well, look, White House press secretary is a tough job,” Leavitt said. “I know that because I did it, obviously, for almost two years, and many people say it’s one of the hardest jobs in politics. It takes a lot of preparation, and sometimes you don’t know how someone will perform until they go out there.”
Leavitt, who spent nearly two years sparring with reporters in the briefing room, struck a gracious tone toward Zacharia while making clear that the role demands a particular kind of person.
“So, look, as the president said, we wish Katie the best,” Leavitt continued. “The job, obviously, was not for her, but we wish her and her family well, and I think I know the president is continuing to look over options.”
Leavitt emphasized that there is no shortage of interest in the coveted post.
“There’s a lot of people who want that job. It’s an amazing job. It provides you with incredible opportunities, and I’ve offered my help to the president to help him select someone who can serve him in the country well,” she said.
Steinhauser pressed Leavitt on what guidance she offers the president when he asks for her input on the decision.
“And when he asks you for your advice, what kind of advice do you give him on who he should select?” he asked.
Leavitt declined to reveal the details of her conversations with the commander in chief.
“Well, I’ll keep my private counsel to the president private,” Leavitt said. “But I do, obviously, talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well.”
She then made the case that President Trump is uniquely equipped to make the pick himself.
“Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump,” Leavitt said. “He knows he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal, and who can go out there and put up a fight.”
Leavitt stressed that the president has plenty of strong options to choose from.
“So, again, there’s plenty of people who want the job. There’s a lot of qualified people who can have it. It’s just up to the president to make that decision,” she said.
Several names have already been floated as potential replacements for Zacharia.
Among them is Anna Kelly, the White House principal deputy press secretary, who is seen as a natural internal successor. Scott Jennings, CNN’s conservative commentator, has also been mentioned as a possible pick.
Other names in the mix include Danielle Alvarez, a White House communications aide, and former Fox anchor Monica Crowley, who currently serves as chief of protocol at the State Department.
For now, the decision rests with the president, who, as Leavitt put it, knows exactly what the job requires: someone tough, smart, loyal, and ready to put up a fight.
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