DOMINANT ANGLE
Berlin is deciphering a sudden downfall at the White House: in five days, Donald Trump's spokesperson goes from a misstep regarding her title as a lawyer to her departure, which the president presents as advice and not a dismissal.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Katie Zacharia took office on Monday and left her post five days later, according to a senior official cited by dpa (Handelsblatt, Tagesschau).
- 02
When faced with Sean Hannity, she admitted to failing the bar exam, according to the Wall Street Journal in California in 2011, and not retaking the test (Tagesschau).
- 03
Trump says he advised her to "think about it again", while several American media outlets are talking about a dismissal (FAZ, Tagesschau).
ANALYSIS
Berlin, October 16, 2026. For the German government, the matter is a countdown: Katie Zacharia, the "recently appointed" spokesperson for Donald Trump, is leaving her post, according to a high-ranking government official cited by the dpa, without a specific date. She had taken up her duties on Monday, October 12, a federal holiday in the United States, Columbus Day; Trump had announced her appointment the day before, on Sunday. She succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left at the end of August.
The German media emphasizes the chaotic start: during her first press conference, on Tuesday, October 13, she appeared nervous, got confused, and abruptly ended the question session. The German press also highlights the controversy over her qualifications. Zacharia admitted to Sean Hannity of Fox News that she had failed the bar exam; according to the Wall Street Journal, this was in California in 2011. She did not retake the exam. Hannity confronted her with about fifteen publications where she claimed to be a lawyer. The German media outlet details the nuance between "attorney", which implies admission to the bar, and "lawyer", sometimes used for simple law graduates, and notes that Trump himself had introduced her as "attorney".
The German media finds it "remarkable" that Hannity, known for being close to Trump and usually very favorable to his policy, asked such tough questions. On her departure, the headlines emphasize the vagueness of the presidential version. Trump claims to have told her: "Ganz ehrlich, wenn ich du wäre, würde ich es mir noch einmal überlegen", and doubts that the post suits her: "Vielleicht ist das nichts für sie". At the same time, he believes that the media treated her "sehr schlecht und unfair" and wants her to be happy. Several American media outlets, recall the German press, claim instead that he fired her.
The succession remains open: the German media, citing Fox News, indicates that Trump is not in a hurry to appoint someone. The German government includes this episode in its live coverage of Trump's second term, among other topics of the day, making it one more episode of personnel management at the White House rather than an isolated scandal.
SOURCES (3)
- FAZMEDIUM
- HandelsblattMEDIUM
