Katie Zacharia was set up to fail by the Trump White House, which thrust her into the role of press secretary without the necessary preparation, according to Joe Lockhart, who served as press secretary under President Bill Clinton.
Speaking on CNN Friday, Lockhart said, "I don't mean this to sound partisan or overly critical of the president, but she is, in fact a victim here. She was thrown out there in a place where she wasn't prepared."
Lockhart contrasted his own experience, noting that he took two months to prepare before facing the press corps. "I wasn't going to go out, the president wasn't going to let me go out, the staff wasn't — until I was absolutely ready, and that's when I went out," he said. "She did this in a couple of hours."
He added, "She was set up to fail, and she has failed. But it shouldn't be surprising. There ought to be a little bit of sympathy here for her that she was not given the ability to succeed here."
Zacharia's tenure lasted just five days. She was appointed a week ago and quickly faced scrutiny over her claims of being a lawyer, with reports emerging that she is not licensed to practice law in any U.S. state. The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, seeking an investigation into her assertions.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Zacharia failed the California bar exam after earning her law degree from Pepperdine University. She dismissed the results Thursday as "somewhat inconsequential."
Her first press briefing on Tuesday lasted just 14 minutes, during which she took three questions and announced the resignation of U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Trump told reporters he had advised Zacharia to "reconsider" the position, and a White House official confirmed she is "transitioning out." The abrupt exit has drawn comparisons to other short-lived White House roles, as noted by former communications director Anthony Scaramucci, whose own stint was famously brief.
As the search for a new press secretary begins, some figures have already positioned themselves for the job. The controversy has also highlighted broader concerns about staffing and preparation within the administration, with critics pointing to a pattern of turnover.
Lockhart's comments underscore a recurring theme in the Trump White House: the lack of a structured transition and preparation for key communications roles. The episode raises questions about the administration's approach to managing its public image and the pressures faced by those thrust into high-stakes positions without adequate support.
