The Katie Zacharia I know — and what she told me about her five days of Washington hell

I asked Katie Zacharia how she is doing. It’s been rough, she says, but she’s holding her head high.

A week ago, she was preparing to face the press for the first time in the White House Briefing Room.

Today, she’s back in California.

Her critics mocked her. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office shared a meme: “In Memoriam: Tuesday-Friday.”

Classy.

Zacharia endured more in one week than most political pundits experience over their entire careers. 

Set aside what you think you know about her, and take a moment to appreciate the strength it takes to pick yourself up after being elevated, then crushed, on the national stage.

Without really making a mistake at all.

I have known Katie for at least a year or so. We have appeared together several times on “Fox News at Night” with Trace Gallagher. 

She also wrote a popular article for us at The California Post about how she had fought for the right to wear a MAGA hat to the gym.

When President Donald Trump named her his new press secretary, everyone who had worked with her had nothing but praise for her.

Elex Michaelson, a CNN host based in Los Angeles, said at the time that she was “one of the nicest guests we’ve ever had” on his show. While she was fiercely loyal to the president, he added: “She’s ended up as personal friends with several of the Democratic panelists we’ve introduced her to.”

But this is politics, and there is nothing more dangerous to Washington than an outsider — in this case, a mother of four from California — elevated to the inner circle.

There was also plenty of jealousy in pundit land from those who quietly coveted Zacharia’s new job.

Zacharia’s first press briefing was fine. She appeared nervous, and stumbled a bit — understandable for someone who had been thrust into the spotlight without months of exposure on the campaign trail, and without weeks to practice and prepare.

She looked the part, and answered a few questions from friendly outlets with calm fluency.

Then, a controversy over her résumé erupted.

Liberal media critics pounced on the fact that despite calling herself a “lawyer,” Zacharia had not passed the State Bar in California or anywhere else.

This, they claimed, was not only dishonest, but a crime.

Some of the same people are supporting “Doctor” Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Michigan, who graduated from medical school but is not licensed to practice.

Dr. Jill Biden was apparently unavailable for comment.

In terms of the legal and ethical issues, Zacharia is in the clear.

She notes that she had consulted with experts on the use of the term “lawyer.”

While rules differ from state to state, the American Bar Association published an article last year in which it noted:

“An attorney is someone who passed the bar examination and has been admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction. But a lawyer, who may have received the same legal training as an attorney, has not been admitted to practice law. …

“[T]oday, the terminology is not a big deal. And you won’t (or shouldn’t) be sued if you use the words indiscriminately.”

Zacharia told me: “The ABA Journal’s January 2025 piece draws the exact distinction I relied on … Before any Fox or media appearances I consulted attorneys and legal professionals who confirmed it was appropriate to identify as a lawyer — given my Pepperdine JD and experience.”

The legal brouhaha was a red herring. Zacharia’s real sin may have been to irritate the wrong people.

The legacy media did not like the fact that she only called on right-of-center outlets — Breitbart, Fox and the Daily Mail.

And, shockingly, some in the conservative media seemed to have it in for her as well.

Ultimately, the buck stops with Trump. He put Zacharia into an impossible position, right before a midterm election.

Zacharia says she has no hard feelings, though. 

“Answering the president’s call to serve was an honor, and my kids were able to see their mom step up for one of the most sought-after jobs in the world,” she told me.

Does she have regrets?

“I’m proud I said yes, stood firm in what I believe, and kept supporting the president even when the circumstances weren’t ideal for me — showing my children what courage looks like in the face of criticism.”

Lessons learned?

“The biggest lessons are to stay true to your character, focus on the work in front of you, and refuse to be defined by the critics.”

My own advice: My first boss in politics told me that the trick to getting through a political scandal was — to get through it. 

That’s it. 

Good luck, Katie. We’ll see you again, soon.

Joel Pollak is the Opinion editor of the California Post.

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