Trump’s new press secretary out after less than a week

Trump’s new press secretary out after less than a week

7 hours ago

AFP

A White House official confirms Katie Zacharia is 'transitioning out' of the position following a series of blunders.

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia leaves the position amid criticism that she had pretended to be a lawyer and over her sole, much-mocked press briefing. (EPA Images pic)

WASHINGTON:

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was pushed out Friday after less than a week in the high-profile job, following a series of blunders that added to distractions for her embattled boss president Donald Trump.

“Can confirm,” a White House official told AFP, after Fox News reported that Zacharia, 41, was “transitioning out”.

The writing was on the wall earlier when Trump made clear he was ready to see his newly minted spokeswoman go amid criticism that she had pretended to be a lawyer and over her one, much-mocked press briefing.

“I said, ‘Katie, is this for you?,'” Trump told reporters. “I said, ‘Katie, you don’t have to do this’… I said to her, ‘Honestly if I were you I’d reconsider.'”

Zacharia only began her job five days ago, taking over from the combative Karoline Leavitt, who helped Trump reshape White House coverage by bringing in more friendly outlets and fiercely attacking critical media.

Zacharia had got off to a rocky start with her debut press room briefing Tuesday morning.

It lasted less than 15 minutes, beginning with a remarkably slow reading out of what she said were Trump’s many accomplishments — then taking just three questions from journalists.

She then was plunged into controversy when it emerged that her previous claims to be a lawyer were not true.

The kerfuffle is a distraction for 80-year-old Trump as he flies around the country trying to boost Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 congressional midterm elections, with polls predicting a drubbing.

The Republican leader himself also faces ever-lower polls as Americans sour over the war against Iran, inflation and perceptions of corruption.

Not a real lawyer

Zacharia had described herself as a lawyer during television appearances and on social media, and listed herself as general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit.

While she does have a law degree from a California university, she acknowledged Thursday she had failed the bar exam, a prerequisite for practicing law in the United States.

She embarked on a series of damage-control interviews on Trump-friendly outlets, but they did no good.

In one of them, Fox News’ Sean Hannity, a close Trump ally, appeared dismissive of Zacharia.

He asked the press secretary if she ever retook the bar exam. She replied: “I did not.”

“It was never my intent to go into the practice of law,” she said.

In another interview Thursday with pro-Trump outlet Real America’s Voice, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was “distracted and overwhelmed” by plans to move to China with her husband.

Zacharia said “many people in the field” had assured her that she could “label myself a lawyer,” given her law degree.

China’s toilets

“Fox and Friends,” which often conducts friendly interviews with Trump administration officials, was unusually direct Friday when a host asked Zacharia if she still had the confidence of the president.

“I hope to be able to build the trust and confidence of everyone around me,” she said, sidestepping the question.

Zacharia further stirred controversy on Thursday when she disparaged China, whose leader Xi Jinping was recently Trump’s guest in a pomp-filled Washington visit.

The press secretary recalled the perception in 2016 was that China would soon overtake the US.

“I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, ‘How is China the next country on the horizon? They don’t even have proper toilets,'” she told right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec in an interview.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded Friday that Zacharia should “visit China more often”.

'Rakyat not stupid': MP fumes over Home Ministry reply on flag gaffes

'Rakyat not stupid': MP fumes over Home Ministry reply on flag gaffes

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain

Published: Oct 16, 2026 11:54 AM


The Home Ministry’s response to a parliamentary question on Jalur Gemilang gaffes has drawn the ire of a DAP MP, who accused the ministry of providing “half-hearted answers”.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng sought the Home Ministry’s explanation over perceived double standards in handling cases involving wrongful displays of the national flag.

In particular, the lawmaker highlighted that while ordinary citizens were remanded and subjected to urine tests, no arrests were made against individuals from Perak MCA, the Kuala Terengganu City Council, and a Johor state exco member for the same offence.

“Were police influenced by the status of those involved?” he questioned.


In a written parliamentary response yesterday, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail detailed action taken by the police in all three cases Lim referred to.


READ MORE: Flag blunders: PN, Harapan, and BN politicians call for common sense, not rage


For the incident involving an upside-down display of the Jalur Gemilang at the Perak MCA office on Aug 28, Saifuddin (below) said personnel from the Ipoh district police headquarters had recorded statements, during which a Perak MCA representative explained the situation.


Noting that the error was immediately rectified while the individual responsible expressed regret and resigned, Saifuddin said the Perak MCA chairperson also sought forgiveness from the Perak sultan and issued a public apology to all Malaysians.


Regarding the incident in Terengganu where the crescent and star were missing from a Jalur Gemilang, Saifuddin said the issue stemmed from “a technical error and weather factors, rather than an act of mischief or sabotage”.

The minister affirmed that while the Kuala Terengganu City Council took immediate action and launched an internal investigation, no police report had been filed against them.

Similarly, no police report was lodged on an incident in Johor involving a state exco member, where an AI-generated Jalur Gemilang graphic contained an 18-point star instead of the correct 14 points.


The minister also said the principle of equality before the law under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution applies in the investigation of all cases.

“Based on this principle, all individuals who commit an offence will be investigated regardless of their respective background or political status,” Saifuddin said.

He added that the police are committed to addressing issues that could cause public alarm, threaten national peace, and disrupt societal harmony.

'An insult and an embarrassment'

However, in a Facebook post today, Lim slammed the Home Ministry for supposedly dodging his question, saying: “Don’t think the rakyat are stupid!”

“Parliament is not a place for officers to play with words to run away from responsibilities!

“Such half-hearted answers are an insult to the rakyat, tarnish Parliament’s dignity, and embarrass the nation!” he added.

***

And where the frigg was the always-angry Doctor in the cases of desecration of our national emblem? 😂😂😂

UM student claims threatened, harassed after Najib fundraiser criticism goes viral

UM student claims threatened, harassed after Najib fundraiser criticism goes viral

Published: Oct 16, 2026 8:53 PM


Universiti Malaya student Ummi Umairah Bakhit claimed she had faced online threats and harassment after videos of her criticising donations to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak went viral.

The 23-year-old economics undergraduate told the New Straits Times that she stood by her statement and refused to be intimidated by those attacking her.

"After the video went viral, they took my photos from Instagram without my consent.

"Some of them also threatened me with expulsion from the university, harassed me, made comments about my physical appearance, and much more," she alleged.


READ MORE: How a student put KJ and Johor MB on the spot over Najib fundraiser, TH scandal


Ummi added that Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim had contacted her to check on her well-being and assured her that she would not face disciplinary action from the university.

She said the university had not taken any action against her so far.

Earlier today, Adam defended Ummi's remarks, which centred on corruption and abuse of power.


Adam, who is also a former student activist, said her criticisms constituted "fair comment" and should not be seen as a threat, but "an important reminder to those entrusted with leadership".

Ummi had criticised what she perceived as rising corruption and described donations to a fundraiser to help Najib pay his RM50 million fine as “the stupidest thing I’ve seen in my entire life”.

She raised the issue during a Higher Education Ministry-backed dialogue on Monday featuring former minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, and Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.



Ummi asked the trio how future leaders should stand against corruption and feudalism.

A group of 13 DAP members, including its Selangor Youth deputy chief Nur Rahim Nasir, also backed Ummi, saying students must be allowed to criticise policies and question current affairs without fear of public backlash, threats, or intimidation.

Huckabee Aide Reportedly Blocked Embassy Reports Critical of Israel

 

Huckabee Aide Reportedly Blocked Embassy Reports Critical of Israel

 

David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, allegedly blocked, altered or delayed embassy reports to shield the Israeli government from criticism in Washington, according to a New York Times investigation. The investigation, published Oct. 8, drew on interviews with 15 US officials and dozens of internal cables, memos and other communications.

The alleged interventions involved reporting on West Bank settlement expansion, settler violence and Gaza’s humanitarian conditions. In one instance, diplomats drafted a cable warning about deteriorating conditions after Israel halted aid deliveries. Milstein reportedly sent a separate cable presenting the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation more favorably. Officials who spoke to the newspaper expressed concern that Washington was receiving an incomplete picture.

Huckabee categorically rejected the allegations without addressing the specific incidents. The State Department said its team remained focused on advancing Trump’s agenda. The investigation did not establish how much Huckabee knew about Milstein’s interventions or whether they affected White House policy; officials said he sometimes supported the changes and sometimes restrained his aide.

GhostofBasedPatrickHenry: All I need to say about David Milstein is that he is Mark Levin’s stepson. This is a statement of fact.

***

Wankee Administration is FULL of shailoks and shailok-lovers

US Proposes Unfreezing Russian Assets to Revive Ukraine Peace Talks

 

US Proposes Unfreezing Russian Assets to Revive Ukraine Peace Talks

 

The United States proposed releasing some frozen Russian sovereign assets as part of a Ukraine peace agreement, citing four unnamed people briefed on the discussions. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the idea during talks in Miami, including potentially moving funds into a financial vehicle overseen by Washington. European delegates rejected relinquishing control. An unnamed US official told Financial Times that the mechanisms and spending arrangements remained under discussion.

Western countries froze roughly $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets following Russia’s 2022 invasion, with much held at Belgium-based Euroclear. European governments have used proceeds from the assets to support Ukraine, while proposals to seize the principal have faced legal concerns. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had no information about the reported US initiative but would pursue recovery of its assets through legal action.

GhostofBasedPatrickHenry: Perhaps this is why the Diaspora is going after Jared Kushner? With a Soros-funded NGO?

Remember: Vladimir Putin expelled George Soros and the Open Societies Foundation from Russia in 2003. That move is essentially why Fox News and the GOP suddenly started calling Putin a dictator in 2006. (Reconcile…)

We always anticipated that Trump would lift the sanctions on Russia. This is happening incrementally, in stages. First he allowed Russia to sell others oil, then he allowed Russia to sell the US oil, now he is going to unfreeze Russian assets. The next logical step is the lifting of sanctions.

Mind you, this is all in conjunction with Trump saying in an interview that he doesn’t like Zelensky and would like to see him out of office.

Has anybody checked on Laura Loomer? She’s been rage-posting all week about Putin being the embodiment of evil and this new wrinkle is not going to help her mental well-being.

When Trump fully sides with Putin and walks away from Israel, I think we will see Loomer turn on Trump. And she is quite vicious (as Trump has pointed out). A nasty woman, really. I don’t expect her to be subtle about it.

***

From Wiki:

Laura Elizabeth Loomer (born May 21, 1993) is an American far-right^[a] political activist, conspiracy theorist,^[b] and internet personality.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Loomer has worked as an activist for several organizations, including Project Veritas, the Geller Report, Rebel News, and InfoWars. She has described herself as being "pro-white nationalist"^[c] and a "proud Islamophobe",^[d] repeatedly making racist and anti-Muslim statements in public settings.^[e][f] She currently hosts a show, Loomer Unleashed, streaming weekly on Rumble.

Loomer has been banned on numerous social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and formerly Twitter (now X, where she has since been reinstated^[1]), as well as on payment processors, and vehicle-for-hire and food delivery mobile apps, for violating policies on hate speech and misinformation.^[2][3][4][5] Loomer has been banned and removed from a number of events, and has had her press credentials revoked for alleged harassment and causing disturbances.