White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia accused the “legacy media” on Friday of trying to turn her into a major story, after she was asked about the grilling she received from Fox News host Sean Hannity just one night earlier.
Zacharia appeared on “Fox & Friends,” where co-host Ainsley Earhardt raised the tough interview with Hannity, who is engaged to Earhardt. The exchange came only hours after Hannity’s sit-down with the new press secretary.
During that interview, Hannity pressed Zacharia on her first press conference, which had been “widely panned.” He also questioned her about the confusion surrounding a Wall Street Journal report that she did not pass the bar exam.
On Friday morning, Earhardt offered Zacharia some sympathy before asking whether she would change anything about her recent appearances.
“I was watching your interview last night on Sean’s show, and God bless you because it’s — other than the president, I think it would be the hardest job because you have to know all the facts, you have to speak off the cuff, and you were just thrown into this role,” Earhardt said.
The “Fox & Friends” co-host then asked whether there was anything Zacharia would say or clarify differently regarding the Hannity interview or her first White House press briefing.
Zacharia did not directly answer the question. Instead, she took aim at the “legacy media,” accusing outlets of using her as a way to draw attention away from President Donald Trump.
“You know, I’m just so grateful to be here and I’m really looking forward to being an asset to President Trump and focusing on what he’s doing for the American people,” Zacharia said.
She argued that the media’s focus on her is a distraction.
“And the legacy media wants to put the focus and attention to me because they want to be distracted, they want to be distracted from the major wins that President Trump is making for America,” she said.
Zacharia then pivoted to the week ahead, saying she is eager for what she described as a “blitz week” for the president.
“So I’m looking forward to the next week. It is a blitz week. He is traveling almost every single day for huge packed rallies and that is what I’m looking forward to,” she said.
The new press secretary was also asked Friday whether she has the “confidence” of the president following what was described as a “tough” first week on the job.
Zacharia stumbled briefly as she began her answer, pointing to her travels alongside Trump.
“I-I-I’m standing here and I was able to travel with him through all of the midterm convention — or, excuse me — the midterm rallies,” she said.
She added that she hopes “to be able to build the trust and confidence of everyone around me.”
The Friday appearance capped a rocky stretch for Zacharia, who faced scrutiny over her debut briefing, the Wall Street Journal report about the bar exam and the pointed questions from Hannity, all within her opening days in the role.
