Former White House Press Secretary Katie Zaharia, whom President Donald Trump removed from office just five days after her appointment, is taking active steps, according to multiple sources, aimed at returning to the post. This is reported by The New York Post, citing three sources close to the president’s inner circle. According to them, Zaharia is using public television appearances and personal contacts with the new Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to regain Trump's trust. The official White House spokesperson position remains vacant at the time of publication.

Five Days in Office and a Major Scandal

A reminder of how quickly events unfolded: Zaharia was appointed press secretary on October 9, 2026. Her first official briefing sparked a wave of criticism in the American media due to unconfident answers to journalists' questions. Additional resonance came to light when it was revealed that the official had never taken the bar exam, despite previously publicly positioning herself as a qualified lawyer. Trump publicly stated that Zaharia had faced "unfair criticism from the media" and suggested she "reconsider the advisability" of staying in office. According to The New York Times, her formal dismissal followed just days after her first briefing. The administration confirmed Zaharia's transfer to another job outside the core White House pool.

Television Appearances and Right Side Broadcasting Network

According to The New York Post, on November 3, 2026, Zaharia appeared on the Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN) to broadcast the results of the congressional elections. One source close to Trump reported that Zaharia stated outright that she hoped the president would see her work and decide she was suited for the press secretary job. "She said it out loud. It's absurd. Truly embarrassing," the publication quoted its source as saying. Later, according to another source who spoke with Zaharia this week, she claimed she was only joking about her RSBN appearance helping her get the job back. Nevertheless, other authoritative sources claim Zaharia systematically appears on programs that Trump likely watches.

Mar-a-Lago and the "Intense Stare"

Last weekend, Zaharia was spotted at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, where the president was preparing for new personnel changes following the replacement of the White House Chief of Staff—the first major shake-up since the Republicans' defeat in the congressional midterms. Given that the press secretary position remained vacant, observers noticed that Zaharia was standing on the Palm Beach club's terrace and, according to an eyewitness, "staring intently at Trump, trying to catch his eye." One New York Post source summarized: "She is never coming back. Trump thinks she's a laughingstock. She doesn't have a single chance.">

Denials from Zaharia's Circle

At the same time, a source close to Zaharia herself stated that she claims she is not interested in returning to the press secretary position and is "focused on defending free speech and supporting the president's priorities in other ways." Another person from her circle declared even more categorically: "I am 100% sure Katie Zaharia is not interested in becoming the White House press secretary." The New York Post notes that Zaharia has publicly expressed admiration for Stephen Miller and praised his role in leading the mass deportation program during Trump's second term, which, according to the publication, "fuels the intrigue" surrounding her intentions.

Context: Personnel Shakes After Midterms

Zaharia's attempt to regain influence within the administration comes amid sweeping personnel changes in the White House. Following the Republicans' defeat in the congressional midterms, Trump replaced the Chief of Staff, marking his first major staffing decision since the vote. The press secretary position, left vacant following Zaharia's resignation, remains unfilled, making the question of who will take the post one of the key elements of the administration's communication strategy for the remainder of the term.