10/16: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, was appointed as the new White House press secretary on October 9, 2026, after Karoline Leavitt left the role. However, Zacharia's tenure lasted only five days due to questions raised about her legal credentials and her handling of media inquiries. On October 16, she was summoned by President Trump who advised her to reconsider staying in the position; shortly after, it was announced that she would be "transitioning into a new role." Zacharia had previously worked as a communications advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns social media platform Truth Social. Her brief stint was marked by controversy over misrepresentations about her qualifications and performance during her first press briefing on October 10, which lasted just 14 minutes.