White House’s Spin On Katie Zacharia’s Debut Briefing Has Critics In Disbelief

Katie Zacharia’s very first (and very brief) briefing as White House press secretary didn’t exactly garner the best reviews.

But not according to Donald Trump’s White House.

Zacharia’s performance drew criticism on social media and cable news and one administration official reportedly told MS NOW that she risked breaking Anthony Scaramucci’s famously short 11-day stint in Trump’s first administration.

Trump’s White House, however, offered a rather different assessment, issuing a press release that described Zacharia’s appearance as a “powerful inaugural briefing.”

Zacharia “delivered a commanding” briefing, which she opened “with clear purpose” and which “served as a strong introduction to her tenure,” the release read.

See the press release here.

Katie Zacharia Delivers Powerful Inaugural Briefing as the 37th White House Press Secretary https://t.co/uWgwzP26W6

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— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 14, 2026

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung was similarly effusive, writing on X that it was “a tremendous start” for Zacharia.

“She commanded the room and effectively reminded the American people of all the great work President Trump and his Administration has done thus far,” he said.

A tremendous start for the new White House @PressSec! She commanded the room and effectively reminded the American people of all the great work President Trump and his Administration has done thus far. https://t.co/suFL7wEW1q

— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 13, 2026

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) had a rather different reaction to the spin.

“You can’t be serious,” he responded.

Others simply replied with laughing-face emojis.

You can’t be serious

— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) October 13, 2026

😂 https://t.co/4REuxMbL60

— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) October 13, 2026

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤦♂️

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— Dom Joly (@domjoly) October 13, 2026