Karoline Leavitt's Surprising Defense of Katie Zacharia's Sudden Firing

Former Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt can give Katie Zacharia grace for stepping onto the White House podium — even for a short while. “Look, it’s a tough job. It’s a very tough job,” Leavitt, 29, said on the Friday, October 23, episode of Real Time With Bill Maher. “People say it’s one of the hardest jobs in Washington, [D.C.], and … I give anyone who steps up to that podium credit, because only 37 people in United States history have been the White House press secretary. That pressure in that room is enormous.” She continued, “I give her credit for standing up there, and as the president said, it wasn’t a good fit and that’s OK. I wish her well, and we’re onto the next.” Leavitt, who left the press secretary role in August to spend more time with her family, noted that President Donald Trump has “a lot of options” for Zacharia’s replacement.

“I mean, it’s a great job. It’s a fun job,” Leavitt noted. “There’s a lot of qualified people who want it, so we’ll see.” News broke on October 16 that Zacharia, 41, was let go from her White House duties after just one week on the job.

“President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic and the most hardworking man,” Zacharia wrote via Instagram at the time, confirming her departure. “I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to. It was an honor to work for him.” Trump, 80, later told reporters that he hopes Zacharia has “a good life” after her brief D.C. stint.