# Karoline Leavitt (and her successors) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 9, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138 "2025-05-09T06:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/241 "2026-10-13T14:50:41Z")
This was an … unimpressive debut by Zacharia. First was a scripted monologue, looking down at the paper and not at the cameras, the journalists, and/or a prompter. Her nervousness, to me, was palpable. The opening speech was nothing but a campaign ad for her Audience of One (Trump). The only questions she took were from three conservative outlets (Fox, Daily Mail, Breitbart): 1. Whether or not we’re still providing intel to Ukraine (“I’ll have to get back to you”) 2. About Kimberly Guilfoyle (the Administration has asked her to resign) 3. How does Zacharia plan to balance the demands of work and family life (Blah, Blah, Blah). It was … yeah: unimpressive at best. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/242 "2026-10-13T14:57:43Z")
Here’s a quick recap of her first press conference from NBC News: > **[Trump’s new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia keeps first briefing...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trumps-new-white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-first-briefing-rcna602948)** > > Zacharia, a conservative commentator, stuck close to prepared remarks in her first outing at the podium. She called on three reporters, all from conservative outlets. The first paragraph summarizes it well: > President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia held an unusually short first briefing with the media Tuesday, concluding after less than 15 minutes and calling on just three reporters, all from conservative outlets. Much as @DavidNRockies reported. Not very impressive. Of course, it’s only her first one, but it’s not a great start. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/243 "2026-10-13T15:11:17Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > it’s not a great start. But that just means it can only get better from here! _Narrator: It did not get better._ ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/244 "2026-10-13T16:29:31Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > She was just pissed she wasn’t as close as she thought she was to Trump when she was left on AF1. I remember Melania saying when she wanted to have a baby, Trump didn’t want her to get pregnant because she’d get “fat.” I’m guessing a pregnant/post-partem Karoline was repulsive to him. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/245 "2026-10-13T16:57:44Z")
He gave her an uncharacteristically long time, then. She announced her departure nearly a month ahead of time. When he dumps somebody, it’s usually pretty fast and there’s usually replacement waiting in the wings. It look about two months for the replacement to appear this time. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/246 "2026-10-13T17:24:35Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > When he dumps somebody, it’s usually pretty fast and there’s usually replacement waiting in the wings. It look about two months for the replacement to appear this time. Truly accomplished professional liars may be scarcer than we think. Most liars are part-time amateurs who sometimes tell the truth. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/247 "2026-10-13T18:53:23Z")
Maybe he forgot, happens a lot on current events. Past grudges and slights however are living forever in his lizard brain. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/248 "2026-10-13T19:08:16Z")
[Moderating] I’ve edited the title now that events have moved past Leavitt and the conversation has focused on her replacement. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/249 "2026-10-13T19:14:11Z")
This wasn’t paywalled for me: > **[Did Trump’s New Press Secretary Lie About Being a Lawyer?](https://newrepublic.com/post/216545/donald-trump-new-press-secretary-lie-lawyer)** > > There is no evidence that Katie Zacharia was admitted to practice law in a single state or Washington, D.C. So … she’s dishonest. CHECK. Feature, not bug. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/250 "2026-10-13T19:32:50Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > So … she’s dishonest. CHECK. > > Feature, not bug. To quote myself from upthread: > [@wolfpup](#): > > Truly accomplished professional liars may be scarcer than we think. Most liars are part-time amateurs who sometimes tell the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/251 "2026-10-13T19:41:09Z")
Thank you Miller, you are awesome. ❤ ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/252 "2026-10-13T20:33:06Z")
Scathing review of the “Zachbot” by the _Guardian_. > **[Enter the Zachbot: Trump’s new press secretary malfunctions on podium debut](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/13/katie-zacharia-trump-press-briefing)** > > Katie Zacharia’s maiden briefing was excruciating – at least her predecessor had delivered her propaganda hot ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/253 "2026-10-13T21:04:22Z")
I don’t think the written word can communicate just how bad and awkward it was. Weird pauses, smiles at random and inappropriate times, sentences split in the middle. See the bit queued up here where she transitions from her prepared lies to the Q&A section. Robotic? Maybe robots 10 years ago. Today’s robots are more lifelike than this. The only reason she’ll make it more than 1 Scaramucci is that Trump cannot admit a mistake. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AJ6jRxHy9xc/maxresdefault.jpg "LIVE: White House press briefing with Katie Zacharia (full)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ6jRxHy9xc&t=491) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/254 "2026-10-13T21:13:28Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I don’t think the written word can communicate just how bad and awkward it was. Weird pauses, smiles at random and inappropriate times, sentences split That was a performance like someone running for student body president in a middle school giving a speech in the gymnasium for the first time. Except she’s supposed to be the president’s press secretary. YIKES. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/255 "2026-10-13T21:31:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That was a performance like someone running for student body president in a middle school giving a speech in the gymnasium for the first time. More like a grade-school level performance, with the added feature of the mandatory worshipful sycophancy toward the Great Orange One. Everyone in this wretched regime is incompetent, but this is a high-profile public-facing position. Regardless of how stupid Trump is, she may still only have a career lifespan of a few Scaramuccis. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/256 "2026-10-13T23:55:29Z")
AIUI it’s not a lie to describe yourself as a lawyer if you’re a graduate of an accredited law school. Misleading maybe. But you can’t work as a lawyer unless you’re licensed somewhere. So she’s 1 for 2. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/257 "2026-10-14T00:49:46Z")
Hmmm, looks like I was wrong (WaPo gift link): [https://wapo.st/3WpWFA3](https://wapo.st/3WpWFA3) > “A J.D. degree does not make you a lawyer,” said Stephen Gillers, a professor at New York University School of Law. > > Bruce A. Green, the director of the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham University School of Law, agreed. “A law school graduate is just that — a law school graduate,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/258 "2026-10-14T02:49:59Z")
That’s not unlike Tom Cotton and his claimed Ranger credentials. He did go to Ranger school but apparently serving as a Ranger is the actual measure - and you don’t have to go to Ranger school to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/259 "2026-10-14T03:22:03Z")
Cousin Greg before Congress was smoother that woman. [![](https://media.tenor.com/t_SY3vX_jEkAAAAe/succession-greg-succession.png) ](https://media.tenor.com/t_SY3vX_jEkAAAAe/succession-greg-succession.png) ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138/260 "2026-10-14T03:49:30Z")
That’s the creepiest thing I’ve seen since Katie Britt’s SOTU rebutal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karoline-leavitt-and-her-successors/1018138.md?page=14)